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Cape Town - Everton manager Ronald Koeman has praised striker Romelu Lukaku's decision to remain with his club despite reported interest from Chelsea.
The new Toffees boss, whose side claimed three points in a highly entertaining match against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, likened the Belgian striker's decision to the club making a big-name signing.
"It is the same value as a mega-signing for this club. It is absolutely fantastic for the club and our team," Koeman said after his side's 2-1 win at the Hawthorns.
"When it is 10 days before the end of the transfer window and you are still focusing on business you may have to do as a club if he left, then it is just really good.
"Developing Lukaku is my big task here," he continued. "The fact that he stays comes on top of a series of signings I am happy with at a time of building a new team for Everton.
"Lukaku is our top scorer, he is our target man. He is our main striker and he is only 23-years-old. You can imagine that I am happy.
"It is important to me that he is not only a good footballer but he is also a great person. Lukaku sees football and lives for his game the way I think a top player should live for it.
"He is a great guy to work with on the training pitch for me - and vice-versa. I think he sees we are able to improve a lot of things - on the team and on his style of play," he added.
