According to reports in The Sun, Everton are lining up a £20m summer move for Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho as a possible replacement for Romelu Lukaku.

With doubts still remaining over the future of the Premier League’s top goalscorer at Goodison Park as he has still failed to sign the new long-term contract that has been offered to him, Toffees manager Ronald Koeman will already be targeting potential successors to the Belgian.

Despite initially bursting onto the scene at the Etihad, Iheanacho has found first team opportunities hard to come by under Pep Guardiola this season and is understood to be considering a move away from the Citizens in order to get regular playing time.

With Lukaku’s future in doubt, Arouna Kone already announced to be leaving and Enner Valencia set to return to West Ham United following a season-long loan spell, Koeman knows he needs to strengthen his attacking options.

Here are three reasons Iheanacho would be the perfect Lukaku replacement…

He is a goalscorer

The 20-year-old striker made a huge impression in his breakthrough season at the Etihad after finishing the campaign with eight goals in 26 Premier League appearances and 14 in 35 outings in all competitions.

He showed that on numerous occasions that he tends to find good positions and be in the right place at the right time, while he also has a natural finishing ability.

If Lukaku does leave Goodison Park this summer with a total of 24 league goals, Koeman will know that he needs a player to replace those and he will be confident that Iheanacho has the potential to do exactly that given time.

He is proven at this level

While some may have thought that he the striker could have been a flash in the pan in the Premier League last season, the 20-year-old has shown that he is a lot more than that having netted another four times – with eight in all competitions – this campaign despite often finding himself behind Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero in the pecking order.

With good movement and excellent finishing ability, there wouldn’t be too much of an element of risk if Everton did sign the Nigerian this summer.

He has a point to prove

If Iheanacho did leave Manchester City on a permanent basis this summer, he would have a point to prove to the club and manager Pep Guardiola wherever his next destination might be.

Lukaku found himself in a similar situation when he moved to Goodison Park from Chelsea having failed to get much of a first team opportunity with the Blues, and look how well that has turned out for Everton.

If the Toffees could buy another striker who will be determined to show his quality and score as many goals as possible, it can only be a good thing for Ronald Koeman’s side.

Do you agree, Toffees fans? Let us know below.