Romelu Lukaku to leave Everton before Euros says father but where to?
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | May 18, 2016
Having sacked Roberto Martinez at the end of an underwhelming and below par season, Everton must brace themselves for the possibility of star players leaving Goodison Park. One of those is set to be top striker Romelu Lukaku, according to the player’s father.
Giving a recent interview to press in Belgium, Roger Lukaku touted Bayern Munich or Manchester United as potential destinations for his son, and he expects any transfer to occur before the Euro 2016 finals in France begin.
“At the moment I think Manchester United or Bayern Munich are the most suitable for him, especially Bayern,” Lukaku senior said of Romelu’s future. “Every year they play at least in the semi-finals of the Champions League and the Bundesliga will suit him tremendously.
“He cannot go to Italy because they keep things closed at the back and it is too hard for an attacker. What is certain, to continue to make progress, he needs to change clubs, but we are mainly engaged in making the right choice.”
Where’s Romelu off to?
While his dad may think Old Trafford or the Allianz Arena are good choices, the betting suggests otherwise. Coral go 4/5 that Lukaku returns to former club Chelsea, but they like the Toffees cannot offer the player Champions League or European football of any kind next term.
Lukaku himself has said he feels there is “unfinished business” at Stamford Bridge, and then Blues boss Jose Mourinho selling the striker in favour of injury-prone and combustible Brazil-born Spain frontman Diego Costa has been cast by some commentators as short-sighted.
Munich are 25/1 outsiders to be his next team, because they have established forward options in Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller. If Bayern were to buy Lukaku, it is difficult to see how they will fit him into their attack, which also includes the likes of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.
The Red Devils, meanwhile, are a much more realistic prospect. A superb 6/1 price says Lukaku will join Man Utd, who are relying on similarly youthful players up front.
Captain Wayne Rooney has come out and said he sees his future playing in midfield, leaving the mouthwatering prospect of Lukaku playing as the focal point of a frontline that includes Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.
Dortmund or Paris potential destinations?
Lukaku’s next club betting currently suggests he is three times as more likely to be at Borussia Dortmund (8/1) than Bayern. The Westfalenstadion club are short on centre forward options, and will face renewed interest from clubs around Europe for top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but have signed up promising French youngster Ousmane Dembele.
Dortmund may be wary of going in for a physical striker to lead their line, however, after the failed experiment of Italy international Ciro Immobile, who has since been farmed out on loan to Sevilla and spent the second half of the season just ended with former side Torino.
French champions PSG are seeking a new superstar up front with Zlatan Ibrahimovic announcing he is leaving the Parc des Princes. Lukaku is a 9/1 shot to join up with the Parisian club where the Belgian would be surrounded by top South American talent.
With Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani as a potential strike partner, and support coming from Brazil winger Lucas Moura and Argentina attacking duo Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore, Lukaku could potentially be that lethal finisher of chances that catapults PSG beyond the Champions League quarter-finals where they always seem to come unstuck.
Serie A v Spain
The words of Lukaku’s father in respect to the Italian Serie A are certainly reflected in the odds, with only Scudetto winners Juventus quoted. Romelu is a 16/1 shot to move to the Turin titans, with no other clubs from that country quoted.
A Spanish switch has not been mooted for Lukaku, but that eventuality is catered for by respective 10/1 chances and El Clasico rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Competing with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez – the definitive best front three in world football right now – would be a daunting prospect for Lukaku. This would seem to make the Bernabeu a better La Liga destination than the Nou Camp, then.
However, Lukaku would find himself in a Cristiano Ronaldo-shaped shadow, with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema among the Galacticos who also light up the Spanish capital club.
Might Arsenal, potentially seeking an attacking upgrade on Olivier Giroud and knowing Danny Welbeck is once again a long-term injury absentee, be an outside shout for Lukaku’s services? He’s a 33/1 chance with Coral to move from Goodison Park to the Emirates.
Related
Visit Coral’s Euro 2016 page for all the latest ahead of the France finals.
There’s also the Premier League page to look at to relive an absorbing season.
