Ronald Koeman Comments on Romelu Lukaku Potentially Playing for Barcelona

Everton manager Ronald Koeman believes striker Romelu Lukaku has the potential to one day play for a top club like Barcelona if he continues his progression at the same rate.

The Belgium international has started the 2016-17 season in fine form and already ranks among the active Premier League top scorers, despite being just 23 years old.

Speaking to Belgian publication HLN (h/t Daily Mirror's Liam Prenderville), Koeman sees even more greatness in his future:

"

Lukaku has the potential to become an amazing striker. He is still only 23 years old and is only getting better.

Everton should normally not be the end for him. Romelu will not have made the most of his career if he plays for Everton for the remainder of his career.

He has the potential to play for a bigger club than Everton.

But nobody knows what will happen after this season. We have a good relationship.

[…] I think he can emulate Patrick Kluivert, who also rose to prominence at a young age and enjoyed a fantastic career.

He eventually played for Barcelona and I can see Lukaku doing the same.

"

Lukaku has already scored seven goals in the Premier League this season, good enough for third best behind Chelsea's Diego Costa and Manchester City's Sergio Aguero. Per WhoScored.com, he has scored double-digit goals in every single campaign since the 2012-13 season.

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His high scoring rate has naturally led to plenty of transfer speculation, and the forward hasn't helped matters with a series of interviews in which he always leaves the door open. Per Vaishali Bhardwaj of the London Evening Standard, he did so again earlier this month.

These latest comments from Koeman won't help matters, and fans from rival clubs couldn't help but take a shot. Here's The Anfield Wrap:

Most Premier League clubs would find themselves in the same boat, however. There are only a handful of elite clubs these days, featuring the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and even Liverpool's very best players usually end up at one of those teams.

Lukaku is still just 23 years old, and as of right now, he doesn't seem ready to carry the line for one of those elite clubs. He certainly has the potential, but he finds himself in the perfect environment at Everton to continue his development and learn more about the game.

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He should be able to have the type of career Patrick Kluivert had, and while the Dutchman made the move abroad at a young age, similar to Lukaku, he hung around once he found the right club for him.

With Premier League clubs growing ever richer, the Toffees have no financial incentive to sell unless a club offers them an absurd amount of money―even if Lukaku walks, the club should emerge strongly from the deal.