LUKAKU EXIT?
I’m ready for step up, says Everton star
ROMELU LUKAKU’S future at Everton was thrown into doubt last night when he declared he wants to be playing in the Champions League next season.
Lukaku, who has scored 25 goals in 37 appearances for Everton this season, clearly has no hope of playing in Europe’s elite competition with his current club, who are 12th in the Premier League.
And just days after Lukaku’s father had said in an interview that his son is keen to get a dream move away from Goodison Park to one of Europe’s giants, the player himself confirmed he is eyeing up a big-money summer switch.
‘I’m 23 next summer and it would be nice to play in the Champions League next season,’ said the Belgian striker.
Everton, recently the subject of investment from billionaire Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri, have maintained that Lukaku, who they signed for £ 2 8 million from Chelsea in 2014, is not for sale.
But Lukaku (right), whose current deal runs out in June 2019, made the comments just days after his father, Roger, had said: ‘I see that there is interest from Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Chelsea and Manchester United. He’s ready.
‘I know his agent prefers Italy, but in my eyes Rom has to join Bayern or Manchester United. United are a team under construction with no real focus.
‘Bayern Munich are a machine where he can rotate well. The only condition is if Robert Lewandowski leaves.
‘Whatever he does, does not surprise me. From the time he started playing football at six in Rupel Boom, he was always the No1. He was always the one who made the goals, he was always bigger and stronger than his peers.’
Lukaku, who is away with Belgium preparing for Tuesday’s friendly in Portugal, initially tried to distance himself from his dad’s comments.
He said: ‘It’s my dad’s point of view, those are the teams that he likes. It’s good to hear. Of course, it means people are keeping an eye on you, but I have an agent who is dealing with this for me. I just want to be good, help my team-mates win the games and score a lot of goals.’