Striker Romelu Lukaku's future at Everton has been thrown into doubt after he told the club he does not want to sign his new contract.

Only last week the Belgium international's agent Mino Raiola had claimed the deal was "99.99999999" per cent done.

However, despite the prospect of becoming the Toffees' first £100,000-plus-a-week player the 23-year-old appears to have had a change of heart.

At the weekend a Belgian broadcaster asked Lukaku whether he was going to sign the contract, whether he was still reflecting on it and whether there was an agreement and to each question the striker simply answered 'No'.

Suggestions then began to emerge that there was a disagreement over a proposed release clause with Everton wanting it set at £90m - which would require any club to break the world record transfer fee - and Lukaku's side looking for the figure to be closer to £70m.

It's understood further developments have now apparently seen the player inform the club after training on Tuesday that the new contract will remain unsigned.

Lukaku, who is the Premier League's joint top goalscorer with Harry Kane on 19, has emerged as one of Europe's top talents and has regularly spoken about his desire to play in the Champions League.

In spite of improvements under Ronald Koeman this season Europe's elite competition remains a considerable way off for the Toffees.

Lukaku is Everton's leading goalscorer this season (Getty)

Everton managed to persuade Lukaku, a club-record £28m signing from Chelsea in the summer of 2014, to stay last summer despite interest from his former club, among others.