A person with direct knowledge of the moves tells The Associate

With Romelu Lukaku eyeing a move to a Champions League club, Roberto Martinez and underachieving Everton have problems...Lukaku has made plenty of headlines this season. But his well-publicised quotes about wanting to play in the Champions League next season wont have pleased Everton boss Martinez during the international break. Lukaku Everton future in doubt Romelu Lukaku has said he wants Champions League football Lukaku is unlikely to feature in Europes elite club competition with Everton any time soon. Martinezs side are down in the bottom half of the Premier League table, 13 points off fourth. A late-season surge towards European qualification doesnt seem to be on the cards, either - theyve managed just four wins in their last 16 league games.That points towards a Lukaku exit from Goodison, which would be a painful blow to the club.With a run to the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup under their belt and a final-four clash in the FA Cup to come, the season has been far from a failure. The Sunday Supplement panel discuss whether Romelu Lukaku leaving Everton for Champions League football would be a good move for him But Evertons worrying league form raises questions over whether the squad and Martinez should be doing better, given the talent they have at their disposal.In the league theyre underachieving, says former Everton striker Tony Cottee. They should be where West Ham and Manchester United are, looking to push into the top four.For Everton to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League - especially when it has been such an open division this season, with all of the big guns misfiring - would be more than disappointing. You cant keep saying oh well, well get it right next year. They need to start getting it right now. Tony Cottee Its a serious problem. You cant keep saying oh well, well get it right next year. They need to start getting it right now.Its a view held by current players, too. At the start of 2016, ahead of a 1-1 draw with Tottenham, Lukaku said: We shouldnt be in this situation. As a team we know we should be higher but at the moment its not going the way we want.Three months on and 12th-placed Everton are actually one spot lower in the league than they were then, albeit with game in hand on the two teams immediately above them.So whats going wrong?Goal-scoring certainly isnt the problem. Only three Premier League teams have found the net more often and, in Lukaku, Everton have the third-top scorer in the division. Lukaku has scored 18 goals in the Premier League this season Its at the other end where the problems lie. Only five teams have conceded more than Everton this term - and nowhere have their defensive problems been more apparent than at Goodison Park. Everton have conceded more goals at home than any other Premier League team.This has led to one of the worst home records in the division. Everton have won just four out of their 16 fixtures in front of their own fans, and only Crystal Palace (14) and Aston Villa (10) have taken fewer than the 16 points Martinezs men have managed at home. Costly goals conceded Everton have dropped 14 points from winning positions this season - only Liverpool (15) have dropped more. In short, Evertons defensive problems are detracting from their good work in attack. Theyve dropped 14 points from winning positions this season - more than enough to place them in the Champions League spots.This group of very talented players have got to find a way of keeping more clean sheets and give themselves a chance to win more games, said Cottee. Evertons defence have conceded 41 goals in 29 games this season I wouldnt say theyre a long way off. With Lukaku, Ross Barkley and John Stones, the spine of the team is very strong. But defensively theyve been vulnerable, particularly at Goodison, where theyve conceded far too many.They will need to add to their squad defensively in the summer. Theyll need a goalkeeper, with Tim Howard leaving, maybe another centre-back to bolster that position and perhaps another holding midfielder.Obviously somethings not quite working because of the number of goals theyve conceded.Cottee says Martinez must find a way to balance Evertons attacking play with a need to tighten up at the back. However, he concedes it may not be easy for the forward-thinking Spaniard to mute his attacking instincts.Ive followed Martinezs career closely and I think he did an excellent job when he was at Wigan. Going forward they were fantastic - but they were always vulnerable defensively, said Cottee. Most goals conceded in Premier League 2015/16 Team League position Games played Goals conceded Aston Villa 20 31 58 Newcastle 19 30 55 Sunderland 18 30 55 Norwich 17 31 54 Bournemouth 13 31 50 Everton 12 29 41 Its hard to say from the outside because I dont know how much time he spends working on the defence, but its something he needs to look at. We all love free-flowing football, but you have to get it right at the back.Martinez needs to look at himself as a manager and also his team to see how he can correct that. He can only do so much himself - the players need to step up, too. But if you keep conceding poor goals it doesnt give you a chance. Captain Phil Jagielka has spoken out in defence of his manager previously, saying the players must also share the blame.But, with new, substantial investment being made in the club, Farhad Moshiri, who has taken a 49.9 per cent stake in the club, will be keen to see improvement soon. A win at Manchester United on Super Sunday would help. But Everton must address their underachievement throughout the remainder of the season - or Lukaku wont be the only player considering whether his future ambitions can be fulfilled at the club. Watch Manchester United v Everton live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Sunday from 3.30pmAlso See:Lukaku happy for Jose reunionLukaku right to look for CLLukaku Everton future in doubtTime for Lukaku to moveCheap Swingman Rockets Jerseys . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Wholesale Rockets Jerseys . 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Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games.A person with direct knowledge of the moves tells The Associated Press that Nashville Predators forward Eric Nystrom and Calgary Flames forward Mason Raymond have been placed on waivers in order for their teams to buy out the remaining year of their contracts.The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Wednesday because the teams didnt announce their decisions.Nystrom, a nine-year NHL veteran, had no goals and seven assists in 46 games last season. He was scheduled to make $3 million in the fourth annd final year of his contract.ddddddddddddRaymond, a nine-year veteran, had four goals and an assist in 29 games last season. He was scheduled to make $3.15 million in the third and final year of his contract.Both will become unrestricted free agents Thursday if they go unclaimed.Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Stuart cleared waivers and will have his contract bought out. ' ' '