MAN OF THE WEEK ROMELU LUKAKU

AFTER I met Romelu Lukaku two weeks ago, he suddenly decided not to sign his new Everton contract: mission accomplished! In all seriousness, I was surprised his agent Mino Raiola had said it was ‘99.9 per cent done’. I can understand why he hasn’t yet signed. This isn’t a money issue; it’s about the Champions League and winning trophies — and that came through in his interview on Thursday. In this day and age, Lukaku should be commended for that. And a lot of Evertonians I have spoken to agree with him. I always thought Lukaku would wait until after the summer to see who Everton signed and if the owners proved they meant business. And Everton do mean business. They’ve recruited Ronald Koeman as manager and there is the prospect of a new stadium, but it could be that Lukaku has thought, at 23, that if he signs a five-year deal he will be priced out of a move to a potential Champions League winner. Koeman was strong in his handling of the situation and I agree that it is not for Lukaku to talk publicly about the board and players Everton could or should have signed. But remember, it was Koeman who said Lukaku should be aiming to play for a club such as Barcelona, so they have both said things they should have kept to themselves! Having spoken to Rom — I’m on first-name terms with him now! — there is no doubt he sees himself as potentially one of the top strikers in the Champions League and he wants to be there. If Everton don’t get into that competition in the next 18 months, sadly that will be the end of him at Goodison Park. He may even leave this summer.