There’s straight-talking and then there’s that. Koeman’s comments on Lukaku haven’t gone down well with the Goodison faithful.
Romelu Lukaku is Everton’s best player. He is the one individual capable of powering past defences in a feat of dazzling athletic prowess reminiscent of Didier Drogba in his pomp before locating the bottom corner with all the composure of a floating, thrilling Thierry Henry.
Yes, he also has a knack for missing the odd sitter or two but, the fact of the matter is, Lukaku has scored a third of Everton’s Premier League goals since the start of last season.
Therefore, it’s probably not the best idea for his manager to blab to the watching world that his talismanic striker should bid farewell to Everton and hop on a plane to Barcelona or Bayern in order to fulfil his potential. But that’s exactly what Ronald Koeman did. And the fans aren’t best pleased.
“If Romelu was to play at Everton until the end of his career, I know he has left something behind,” Koeman told Belgian newspaper HLN in quotes reported by Sky Sports.
“His potential is greater and higher than Everton, as a final destination.”
Koeman may have a point. Despite being a constant scourge of Premier League defences for as long as recent memory permits, Lukaku is still only 23 years of age and, with a little bit more consistency, has all the ingredients to stand rank alongside the very best Europe has to offer.
According to Sky Sports, the Belgian bruiser handed in a transfer request in the summer, with the player himself exceedingly outspoken in his desire to play Champions League football. Like it or not, that is something Everton cannot provide. Not now, and probably not in the next few years either. Lukaku will leave Goodison Park eventually.
Though, for what it’s worth, Everton could do without Koeman helping to pack his bags.
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