Lukaku: Difficult to replace

by Mark Frere | 19/06/2016

27 Comments [Jump to last]

With the appointment of Ronald Koeman and the investment of billionaire Farhad Moshiri, this is a very exciting time for the Everton faithful. I'm sure Koeman is looking forward to assessing the players he has at his disposal and seeing where he needs to improve the squad.

One key issue he will want resolving is the future of our prolific goalscorer Romelu Lukaku. Prolific strikers are difficult to come by; we only have to look at our own history in the Premier League era to see how hard it is to secure a striker that finds the back of the net as frequently as Romelu does. Last season, he broke Kanchelskis's record of 16 Premier League goals for Everton by scoring 18 goals. In truth, he should've scored more but there appeared to be a rapid decline in his attitude on the pitch, which resulted in a real barren spell in front of goal.

Even Yakubu (as good as he was) only managed 15 Premier League goals (22 in all competitions) in his best ever season with us. So, if the inevitable happens, and Lukaku gets his wish of playing in the Champions League next season, which striker out there is capable of replacing him? I have found it hard to think of many players that could fill the void of Lukaku's goals; the only (realistic) player I can think of, currently plying his trade in the Premier League and who is worthy of replacing Romelu, is Wilfried Bony.

He had a prolific goal-scoring record at Swansea — a record that is every bit as impressive as Lukaku's... and he does hold the ball up better than the big Belgian. But, he is older at 27 years old and he does play in the dreaded African Cup of Nations, which means losing him for a portion of the season.

Anyway, I was struggling to think of worthy replacements, so I thought I'd look at the top goal-scoring charts of the top leagues across Europe to refresh my own memory about certain players and see if I could identify any gems:

La Liga:

Luis Suarez - 40 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo - 35 goals
Lional Messi - 26 goals
Karim Benzema - 24 goals
Neymar - 24 goals
Antoine Griezmann - 22 goals
Aritz Aduriz - 20 goals
Gareth Bale - 19 goals
Ruben Castro - 19 goals
Borga Gonzalez - 18 goals
Lucas - 17 goals

Italian Serie A:

Gonzalo Higuain - 36 goals
Paulo Dybala - 19 goals
Carlos Bacca - 18 goals
Mauro Icardi -16 goals
Leonardo Pavoletti - 14 goals
Mohamed Salah - 14 goals

German Bundesliga:

Robert Lewandowski - 30 goals
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 25 goals
Thomas Muller - 20 goals
Chicharito - 17 goals
Antony Modeste - 15 goals
Sandro Wagner - 14 goals
Claudio Pizarro - 14 goals
Soloman Kalou - 14 goals

French Ligue 1:

Ibrahimovic - 38 goals
Lacazette - 21 goals
Cavani - 19 goals
Batshuayi - 17 goals
Ben Yedder - 17 goals
Ben Arfa - 17 goals
Germain - 14 goals

Dutch Eredivisie:

Vincent Janssen - 27 goals
Luuk de Jong - 26 goals
Arkadiusz Milik - 21 goals
Dirk Kuyt - 19 goals
Sebastien Haller

Portugal Primeira Liga:

Jonas - 32 goals
Islam Slimani - 27 goals
Konstantinos Mitroglou - 20 goals
Leo Bonatini - 17 goals
Rafael Martins - 16 goals
Bruno Moreira - 14 goals

The stats above are only the goals scored in their league campaigns and do not include goals scored in cup competitions.

There's not many realistic worthy replacements on that list; my personal choices would be Lacazette, Janssen or Icardi. I only really watch the Spanish, German and Italian leagues when watching foreign football so I'm only going by what I read about Lacazette and Janssen.

I would be interested in anyone else's views and knowledge of players they think would be a good replacement for Lukaku. ToffeeWeb has contributors from all around the globe, with knowledge from various different leagues. Perhaps someone knows about another hidden gem like Niasse in the Russian league?

One thing is for sure, though: Lukaku will be very difficult to replace.

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Reader Comments (27)

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Elijah Angus
1 Posted 20/06/2016 at 07:40:54

In my opinion there are 3 options, 1) marquee signing, this would be the likes of Cavani or HiguaÃn. 2) Young player with potential, this would be Batshuayi or Janssen 3) keep Lukaku.

My personal choice would be the marquee signing - if possible if not look Rom dead in the eye and say you're not going anywhere.

Brian Williams
2 Posted 20/06/2016 at 08:28:10

I'd prefer, if he's to go, to replace him with two more mobile ball playing attackers and not rely on a single big "target" man but play two up front.

Change our game and share the goal scoring responsibilities

Ben Hayes
3 Posted 20/06/2016 at 09:06:51

On another post I've put in my players I want to sign, Higuain would be number 1 but I don't think that's realistic so I went for Janssen and milik as they are mobile and play football think they would do well together and both only 22 stillLink

Stephen Ashton
4 Posted 20/06/2016 at 09:51:02

Personally I would have a good look at Morata. Only 24 and has been messed about horribly by Juve and Real. From what I've seen he is mobile, always works hard and there is a great player waiting to get out. Also he may be more realistic than most.

Laurie Hartley
5 Posted 20/06/2016 at 12:06:13

I am with Brin's (#2) idea of spreading the goal scoring responsibility by playing 2 up top.

I think Mirallas is a perfect fit as the second striker alongside a big strong traditional centre forward. I suggested these 3 on another thread several weeks ago:

Pelle
Giroud
Dzeko

Peter Gorman
6 Posted 20/06/2016 at 12:18:42

Lukaku is only difficult to replace if the next striker has to be a misfit, border-line idle, egotistical Heskey who scores goals when it suits him.

People groaned at the mere thought of Pelle who works as hard as a Japanese POW (but a happy one, as Partridge says) - yet the likes of Long, Mane and Pelle took Southampton further than we managed so I am not concerned about getting a like for like replacement.

The team will always be more than a sum of its parts and so I'm also with Brin on this.

Hopefully the lad will go and go soon, and it will be our Anelka moment (sold for Thierry Henry, Davor Suker and change).

Trevor Lynes
7 Posted 20/06/2016 at 12:59:09

The other option is doing a Suarez and making him stay.

How long do we have on his contract ?If two more years then we should make him stay and if he plays well and continues scoring goals then his stock will rise.We may get into Europe which should satisfy his ambitions and keep him with us.If he still wants to leave then we can demand top money for a still very young player with loads of potential and years to play.I would not let him leave for less than £70 million and if that scares clubs away then so be it.

Damian Wilde
8 Posted 20/06/2016 at 14:25:24

"In my opinion there are 3 options, 1) marquee signing, this would be the likes of Cavani or HiguaÃn."

As if they'd come to us.

Paul Mackie
9 Posted 20/06/2016 at 15:35:21

I said it on another thread and I'll say it again here - the reason you see bonkers figures like £50m being thrown around is because proven Premier League goal scorers are difficult to replace.

Anyone on that list coming to Everton would be a gamble. Lukaku might be a mouthy so and so, but he also scores goals. Set the team up to get the best out of him instead of a rigid 'philosophy' and we'll go far. If our defence hadn't been absolute dog turd for the last 2 seasons I'm pretty sure that we'd have done better than Southampton with fucking Pelle and Long.

He's got 3 years left on his contract. If Koeman wants to keep him then he's going nowhere as it doesn't seem like he has any kind of buy-out clause.

Steavey Buckley
10 Posted 20/06/2016 at 15:40:26

The idea of going into another season without Lukaku a recognised top premier league goal scorer would be a cause for concern. And should not be treated lightly by wanting goal scorers from other leagues, whose track record in the premier league was not as good where they came from.

Paul Black
11 Posted 20/06/2016 at 15:42:53

Damien, 8, it's an understandable comment Damien but given the opportunity, doesn't that depend on how persuasive Moshiri and Special K can be?

Jay Harris
12 Posted 20/06/2016 at 15:51:07

I am with Brian on this.

Spread the goals and therefore the risk.

Look at the panic now about losing Lukaku but what about if we kept him and he got a serious injury.

I have long advocated a goalscoring MF player which we havent had since Fellaini left and no matter what you think of Barry and McCarthy they havent got goals in them.

I would hope Ross improves and bring in a forward who can link up play as CF with Mirallas and Winaldum on either wing.

Tom Bowers
13 Posted 20/06/2016 at 15:52:49

Don't worry guys Everton will have a capable striker available even if Rom goes, I am sure Big K has a handle on the situation and has a short list of replacements in mind.

I see Wanyama may be going to Spurs for 11 million. I really rated this big strong midfielder before last season but since his injury it seemd he had gained weight and gone slower but of course going back to his old manager may change that.

Steavey Buckley
14 Posted 20/06/2016 at 16:15:29

Even though Everton had a bad season by their standards, Everton scored as many goals as Southampton, who by their standards, had a good one, and qualified for the Europa. But if Southampton had Lukaku's goals, they would have managed 4th place. Even though there was a spread of goals amongst Southampton players, with Mane as top scorer with 11 goals.

Mick Davies
15 Posted 20/06/2016 at 18:28:04

"Lukaku: Difficult to replace" last year yes; now, with our new investment, and the 'Lukaku money' could well replace this sulking, self-centred lunkhead, who has disrespected our great club. Remember how low we felt when the best player of his generation left us in 2004? The next season we gained our highest ever PL position

Craig McFarlane
16 Posted 20/06/2016 at 19:05:03

Stephen @4, looks like Madrid are exercising their option to buy him back, but whether he stays there or not is the source of some debate (there is talk of them buying him back only to ship him out at a profit)

If Morata does stay at Madrid, that could free up Jese, who looks pretty decent...can play on the left of a 3 as well, which could be interesting. Don't you just love silly season?

Kevin Kolasinski
17 Posted 21/06/2016 at 03:58:42

You look at Stones and Lukaku – two guys who clearly don't wanna be here!! I'd look for younger strikers... Milik, Janssen and maybe go top shelf for a play-making winger or center midfielder and top holding midfielder in front of the centre-backs... I wish for Toni Kroos but that's dreamland, lol.

Peter Gorman
18 Posted 21/06/2016 at 13:20:19

Paul @9, set the team up to get the best of out Lukaku? No way, he only shows up half the time. Would be a recipe for disaster.

James Stewart
19 Posted 21/06/2016 at 14:49:22

A well considered article but I disagree; I think Lukaku could be easily replaced. Yes, he scores goals, but so would Lacazette, Milik, Slimani, Icardi, Batshuayi... I could go on.

Lukaku's technique is poor; I doubt that can be improved... time will tell. As long as the goals keep flowing, no-one pays attention but as soon as he hits a barren spell people start to notice how little he offers the team. Koeman likes a big lump up front though so I'm sure he will want to keep Lukaku.

Paul Ellam
20 Posted 22/06/2016 at 19:56:41

Keep Lukaku, add Dzeko and Milik (experience and potential)
Win trophies.
Easy.

Dennis Ng
21 Posted 22/06/2016 at 20:04:44

Found this Link on 30 top scorers across Europe. It backs up how hard it will be to replace Lukaku. It does make Janssen a good shout as a partner or replacement. We can debate whether we want Lukaku here or not but IRKIT. Let him talk to Lukaku and if it is a disruptive force, I'm sure he will cut his losses quickly.

Alan Bodell
22 Posted 22/06/2016 at 23:04:27

Not difficult to replace at all with and please correct me if I'm wrong his hold up, first touch, shooting, free kicks, penalties, heading and anticipation and I may have missed some other that he lacks to be where in his head he thinks he is.
Koeman will sort this lazy twat and his knobhead agent out and next season some other misguided club can get the baggage he brings.

Jack Cross
23 Posted 23/06/2016 at 20:03:27

The lower leagues are where we should be looking, there are lots of strikers with high potential that we could get for next to nothing.

Danny Mill, 24 (White Hawk) non-league 6ft-4in, good in the air and on the ground and knows were the net is.

Brendon Daniels, 21 (Harrogate Town) Striker/Winger. Iv'e seen him and rate him.

James Norwood, 24 (Tranmere Rovers) Striker. I think he's a future England player.

Aaron Williams, 21 (Nuneaton Town), National League North.

I could go on and go on. And yes, I'm serious. Just remember where Vardy was not so long ago.

Jack Cross
24 Posted 23/06/2016 at 20:13:52

Has anyone seen the goalie at Shefield Wednesday? Keiren Westwood? I don't think he would look out of place between our sticks. Better than Robles, in my opinion.

Jim Wilson
25 Posted 24/06/2016 at 09:05:00

Stats can be so misleading. In a Moyes Everton where Lukaku would have had to show more movement and workrate I don't think he would get into double figures. Martinez sacrificed everything to get Lukaku goals. Lukaku can easily be replaced by someone who can get us goals.

Tony Draper
26 Posted 30/06/2016 at 19:05:07

Lukaku does seem to have similar levels of control with his first touch and his gob.

TBH, let him talk up his sell-on price, suits Everton just fine. Meantime, we hold his registration, which judging by his first touch and gob, has probably been signed with a scrawl akin to a shitfaced spider crawling out of an inkwell. So what?

He bangs in goals for us under contract. He will bang more goals for us under his contract. We will continue to employ him until the circumstances suit us to do otherwise.

This is NOT scared Lilliput FC, THIS IS EVERTON!

Tony Abrahams
27 Posted 30/06/2016 at 19:17:53

Jim 25, I have to agree with your last sentence mate, it's a really valid point that.

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