It’s difficult to replace Lukaku, Everton Boss Koeman says

Everton Manager, Ronald Koeman, has admitted that it is a difficult task for the club to replace former striker, Romelu Lukaku, who now plays for Manchester United.

Lukaku, who scored 25 goals last season to help Everton finish seventh in the Premier League, completed a £75 million move to Old Trafford this summer.

“It is difficult to replace Romelu Lukaku,” he said in Thursday’s press conference.

“I don’t say impossible, but 25 goals is a lot and we have to find other ways and productivity from other players and we like to bring in other players in.”

Everton will begin their Premier League campaign this Saturday at home against Stoke City, and Koeman expects it to be a tough game.

“A difficult game, Stoke City is always a battle,” he remarked.

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Only this summer, Wayne Rooney has returned to the Goodison Park, and former Barcelona forward Sandro Ramirez from Malaga also. But Koeman believes his rivals have gotten even stronger than last season.

“First of all we have big ambitions that we like to show to everybody. The end of the transfer window is more realistic to speak of targets and what is possible.

“We spent money, but everyone is spending money and it is a big competition.

“You have teams like Manchester City and Manchester United who will be stronger than last season, but it is still not the end of the transfer window.”

Everton host Stoke on Saturday to kick off their league campaign before also hosting Hajduk Split in their Europa League play-off next Thursday.

 

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