Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has suggested that Bournemouth striker Joshua King could be in for a move to Everton this summer as a replacement for sought-after star Romelu Lukaku.

What's the word?

It seems more than likely that Belgian international Romelu Lukaku will be leaving Everton come the end of the season, having snubbed the most lucrative deal the club had ever offered any player earlier in the campaign.

With that in mind, talk about who could potentially replace the former Chelsea man is rife amongst the media, and Paul Merson has suggested that manager Ronald Koeman should take a look on the south coast.

"They [Bournemouth] are going to have a fight on their hands to keep King,” the former Arsenal man told Sky Sports.

"I mean he’s scored 16 goals playing for Bournemouth.

"[If] Lukaku goes, would you take King to Everton for Lukaku?

Whilst the former England man suggested the 25-year-old could be an option, he was also hesitant as to whether or not his form would be replicated away from the Vitality Stadium.

"But those 16 goals could become six or seven if he went somewhere else."

Could it work?

In theory, yes.

The Norweigan international is second only to the current Toffees striker for Premier League goals scored since the turn of the year, with 13 of his 16 goals so far having come since the New Year while Lukaku has bagged 14 in the same amount of time.

The goal-scoring run, the best of the former Blackburn man's career to date, has come at the same time as Eddie Howe's decision to give King a more central role in the side, following another long-term injury to Callum Wilson.

Whilst far behind Lukaku in terms of Premier League goals or experience, the Bournemouth man has a very similar style, strong and direct but with the skillful touch to take on any defender who stands in his way.

It would be a gamble to put the burden of replacing the current Premier League top scorer on King's shoulders, but it may just pay off.