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Koeman: I'll try and keep Lukaku for as long as possible

Ronald Koeman has attempted to clarify the comments attributed to him by the media over the international break regarding Romelu Lukaku's future, saying that it is his intention to keep the striker at Goodison Park for as long as possible.

Sections of the Everton fanbase were concerned by Koeman's claim, as quoted by Het Laatste Nieuws in Belgium last week, that Lukaku won't have fulfilled his incredible potential if he remains with the Toffees for the rest of his career.

It's a sentiment echoed by Everton favourite Andrei Kanchelskis this morning who told 888Sport that the Belgium international should move on because, “ it is impossible for them to win the league. There are too many other very good teams now and for Everton Champions League and top-four is everything.”

Koeman was asked to elaborate on his thoughts at his pre-match press conference this afternoon by Sky Sports' Vinny O'Connor and the Dutchman smiled wryly as he pointed out how the media have, in his opinion, twisted some of his comments in recent days.

“You've had several headlines in the press about what I've said about different questions but, ok, it's not [about defending] myself because it's all about the headline you take out of context.

“But what we like to show Romelu is that we are Everton and that we grow and that we will be bigger and that we will fight for titles.

“If Everton stays on this level [without improving] then, of course, it's not good that he finishes his career at Everton because he is one of the best strikers and he's only 23 years old.

“Even if he stays for more years, that's not bad for his career because he's improving, he's learning but, of course, he is one of the better strikers that we have in the Premier League, maybe in Europe, [so] of course there is a lot of interest in the player.

“And finally, the player needs to make the decision and the club needs to make the decision to accept [a bid] or not.

“What I try to do is to keep Romelu as long as possible at the club. The problem of next summer (when big bids could come in) is the problem for the summer problem. Of course know we need to be prepared for Romelu's position but maybe also for different positions. And that's the job we need to do.”

Lukaku made no secret prior to Euro2016 of his belief that he was ready to join a club who could offer him Champions League football this season but with Everton signalling their lack of desire to sell by putting a reported £65m-plus price tag on his head, the chances of him leaving this summer were slim.

The Belgian ultimately expressed to the new Blues manager his desire to stay at Goodison for at least one more season and Koeman was asked what Everton would need to achieve this season in order to convince Lukaku to commit his future to the club beyond the final two years of his contract.

“He took the decision to stay because he had a good feeling about what was happening at the start of the season. If we show the team, the management and the Board that we are growing and improving and playing for Europe, that's the first step always for the ambition for players.”

Koeman's latest comments follow his glowing appraisal of Lukaku's potential in his interview with Gary Lineker on BBC's The Premier League Show which aired last night.

When asked by the former Everton and England striker turned Match of the Day presenter, Koeman said: “In my opinion we have the best striker. He can't improve any more in his finishing in the box. He will always score goals.

“He can improve in his defensive positions. He can improve a little bit more in his work-rate, to help the midfield and to help the defence to press but he's really a fantastic striker.”

 

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