danger to Chelsea's title bid but would not plump
for the Everton striker over his own top scorer
Diego Costa.
Lukaku left Chelsea after loan spells with West
Brom and his current employers, having failed to
make an impression upon the first team at
Stamford Bridge.
The Belgium international leads the way in the
Premier League scoring charts this season with 24
goals - five more than Chelsea's leading
marksman.
Costa ended a recent goal drought with a brace in
Tuesday's 4-2 win over Southampton, while there
was speculation over Chelsea making a move to
re-sign Lukaku when the former Atletico Madrid
man was linked to the Chinese Super League in
January.
"I think Lukaku, for sure, is a really good player,"
Conte told a pre-match news conference ahead of
Sunday's match at Goodison Park. "He's scoring a
lot of goals this season, but not only this season.
"We must pay great attention [to him]. But it's
always the same. We study the opponents and we
try to find the best solution to stop them - for
single players and about the team.
"We must pay great attention to Lukaku and the
other players. They have a lot of good players,
good technique, good finishing."
Asked whether he would like Lukaku at his
disposal, Conte responded: "In my team? As I said
before, for me my players are the best in the world.
I don't change my players with other players."
Conte underlined this collective appreciation of his
squad when addressing N'Golo Kante being named
PFA Player of the Year, with Blues colleague Eden
Hazard coming second in the vote.
"In this case, I prefer to have 23 votes and to vote
for every one of my players, for sure," said the
former Juventus and Italy boss.
"But I think this is a great achievement for N'Golo
and also for Eden. I think they are having a really
good season.
"But I think, also, many Chelsea players deserve to
stay in this group of players, to try to win the best
player of the year."
Victory on Merseyside would open up a seven-
point gap at the summit over closest challengers
Tottenham, who host Arsenal in the north London
after Chelsea face Everton.
Conte won three consecutive Serie A titles during
his time in charge of Juventus and he is relishing
being at the forefront of another title race.
"I think that, in this league, two teams are having a
great season," he said. "Chelsea are having a great
season, but also Tottenham - a great season.
"Two good teams, two teams who are showing we
deserve to fight for the title until the end. For sure,
you must enjoy this type of situation.
"After a lot of work, it's important to arrive at the
end of the season fighting for something important.
For us, it's a great achievement to fight for the title
and the FA Cup, because we are in the final.
"But also we must praise Tottenham because they
are playing very well and having a great season in
the same way like Chelsea."
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