Everton manager Ronald Koeman has bizarrely suggested Romelu Lukaku’s potential is too big for him to stay at the club long-term, saying he has the quality to play for Barcelona.
The Toffees fought hard to keep their top goalscorer at Goodison Park over the summer, in light of much speculation about a move away, with former club Chelsea particularly keen on bringing him back to Stamford Bridge.
But Koeman has fanned the flames by suggesting the Belgium international will have to leave the club to fully realise his talent.
"I gave him confidence and he has himself recognised that it was good for his development to play another year at Everton," he told Belgian newspaper HLN.