Lukaku reveals aborted move to rival Premier League club
Romelu Lukaku has confirmed for the first time that he came very close to joining another Premier League side this summer before Everton scrapped the deal.
The 23-year-old Belgian powerhouse was linked with moves to Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal over the summer, while Juventus and PSG were also credited with an interest.
It looked a good bet at one stage that Lukaku would leave Goodison after this revelation from his agent Mino Raiola – but the striker has revealed it was Everton who kiboshed his potential transfer to an unnamed Premier League rival.
“I’m not going to lie. There was a specific club in England who was really keen to buy me,” he told Sport/Voetbalmagazine.
“But Everton’s new staff made me understand they didn’t want me to leave. What can you do when that happens?”
Lukaku’s agent, Mino Raiola, is also the agent of Manchester United trio Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who all made the switch to the Manchester club this summer.
The Blues forward is another big name on Raiola’s list that would be certain to go for big money, should a club come in for him.
But the introduction of Ronald Koeman was enough to convince Belgium international to stay at Goodison Park.
Lukaku open-minded on his future
After pledging his allegiance to Everton for another season, the striker admitted he harbours ambitions to win the Premier League.
“That’s the trophy I want, that’s what I work for, to win that title.”
But he also didn’t rule out any potential transfers in the future. If he achieves his dream of winning the Premier League, he said he would like to explore the options of playing in other leagues.
“I would not say no to Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga, but before such a move several conditions need to be met.
“First I need a coach to work with who believes in me as there is no point in signing for someone and then realise on the spot that the system is not designed for me.”
Lukaku has a contract at Everton until June 2019 after signing a five-year deal in 2014 and Raiola admitted earlier this year that a new deal could yet be agreed with the Toffees.