text: Everton manager Roberto Martinez insists he is not concerned that Romelu Lukaku has joined forces with high-powered agent Mino Raiola ahead of a potential summer of transfer speculation surrounding the striker. Raiola, steeped in Italian and Dutch football, is one of the most influential agents in the game, with Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and Liverpool’s Mario Balotelli among his high-profile clients. The Italian middleman has been involved in transfer deals worth over £400million and Lukaku’s decision to sever his links with Christophe Henrotay, who oversaw his Everton club record £28m move from Chelsea last summer, adds a possible new dimension to his career. Romelu Lukaku (left) poses alongside his new agent Mino Raiola in an Instagram picture . The appointment of Raiola as agent fuels speculation Lukaku (left) could be set for a move away from Everton . Roberto Martinez, the Everton manager, is unconcerned by Lukaku joining Raiola . The Belgium striker, 21, has scored only eight times in the Premier League so far this season compared with 15 last term. But he has netted 18 in total, including eight in the Europa League which spearheaded Everton’s run to the last 16. With Everton 13th in the Barclays Premier League there will be no European adventure next season but Martinez, who persuaded Lukaku to turn a season-long loan into a permanent five-year deal last summer, is adamant that the player’s switch of agents has not set the alarm bells ringing. Martinez said: ‘He has changed his agent, yes, but we are not concerned, no. Rom is entitled to do that. ‘Everyone speaks about the colourful character that Mino Raiola is but he has a lot of players who are very much people who are happy to stay at one club. ‘I dealt with Mino Raiola at Wigan and not many people know that he had Danny de Ridder or Vladimir Weiss, players who have been happy to stay at a club. I don’t think there is anything to read into that.’ Martinez does not expect a summer of upheaval at Goodison Park, despite the team’s disappointing campaign. Veteran defender Sylvain Distin, 37, who has not featured in the league since late December, will leave at the end of his contract but, according to Martinez, fellow centre back Antolin Alcaraz still has a chance to earn a new deal during the closing weeks of the season. Meanwhile, the manager insists 21-year-old midfielder Ross Barkley can build on his performances from the bench for England against Lithuania and Italy to finish an indifferent season on a high. ‘He will benefit from the experiences of this difficult season,’ added Martinez, whose side entertain Southampton on Saturday. Raiola has engineered big money moves for players such as Mario Balotelli at Liverpool . Martinez believes that Ross Barkley (left) will benefit from the difficult season that he has endured . ‘This is his second full season in an important role in the squad. ‘He enjoys that responsibility and taking responsibility in big games. ‘He has an incredible technical ability and, with the physicality he has, you don’t see many players in world football with those capabilities. ‘We know who Ross is and how important he is for the future of Everton.’
target: Roberto Martinez unconcerned by Romelu Lukaku's link with Mino Raiola .
  Raiola has been involved in transfer deals worth over £400million .
  Martinez backs Ross Barkley to learn from his difficult season .