Romelu Lukaku has accused Everton of “living in the past” and says their lack of ambition is the reason behind his decision to turn down a new contract with the club.

Top scorer Lukaku has rejected a lucrative new deal – the richest in Toffees history – as speculation linking him with a move away from Goodison Park this summer continues.

Everton have spent big this season, splashing £25million on Morgan Schneiderlin and £20m on Yannick Bolasie, and remain determined to keep hold of their star asset.

But Lukaku believes there needs to be a bigger influx of top players, and with it a return to the Champions League, if he is to stay and commit his future to the club.

"Everton as a football club has a great history. But the future has to be written. You get me?,” he said.

“Because we always talk about the teams of the 80s and 70s and if you look it was great. But we as players we want the fans talking about us instead of us talking about them.

"Instead of living in the past, you have to think ahead. How this club has to grow, how this club has to improve, which player does it want to bring in so you can challenge for the big trophies.

"Then like sometimes I will speak to Vincent Kompany who was at (Manchester) City when it all happened. He said, 'Rom, one summer I just came in and boom, boom, boom, boom... Robinho from there, that guy came in, this guy came in, this guy came in and then everyone was criticising them but at the end, they had league titles, FA Cup here, League Cups there.

"That is what we want as players.

"I don't know what the board's plan is. I don't really know. Obviously stuff is changing and stuff is happening, but like I said there were some players that we could have got.

"That I knew the club could have got and they didn't get. And they are playing in this league. I am not saying names, but they are doing well."

Lukaku is the Premier League's joint-top scorer this season (Getty)

The 23-year-old believes he is close to becoming one of the best strikers in the world but needs to be playing on the biggest stage.

"To do that, you need the platform to show yourself," he added. "Then you are talking about Champions League and whatever types of games. I don't want to go into details on that but you just follow the path that is in front of you. Whatever type of situation, I just try to deliver.

"But as a team you want to be the best. I want my team to be the best. I want my team to be the most attractive to play in the league. At the end of the day, the big aim in football is to win as many titles as you can.