Romelu Lukaku Reveals Desire to Leave Everton, Cites Lack of Club Ambition

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has said his motivation to leave the club this summer is down to their lack of ambition and his own desires to win trophies during his career.

The Daily Mail's Dominic King provided quotes from Lukaku, who was speaking at a Kick It Out event at Everton's training ground on Tuesday, having also confirmed he won't sign a new contract at Goodison Park:

"

Everton as a club have a great history, right? But the future has to be written. You get me? We always talk about the teams of the 1980s and, if you look, it was great. But we, as players, want the fans talking about us instead of us talking about them. No disrespect but you know what I mean?

You cannot only be remembered by scoring goals. You want to be remembered by winning trophies. That is what the fans want. So instead of living in the past, you have to think ahead.

"

There was speculation Lukaku could leave Everton last summer, and the Telegraph's Matt Law reported former employers Chelsea are once again interested as we approach the summer transfer window.

The Belgium frontman went on to detail conversations he had with international team-mate Vincent Kompany, who arrived at Manchester City when the club's big-spending exploits really took off in 2008:

"Sometimes I speak to Vincent Kompany, who was at Manchester City when it all happened. He said, “Rom, one summer I just came in and boom, boom, boom… Robinho from there, this guy came in, this guy came in” Everyone was criticising them but, at the end, there are two league titles, FA Cup here, League Cups there. That is what we want as players."

The attacker also elaborated more specifically upon recent transfer business his club have missed out on, detailing those same players are now thriving in the Premier League:

"Stuff is happening. But there were some players we could have got, that I knew the club could have got and they didn’t. And they are playing in this league. I’m not saying names but they are doing well."

Lukaku may find it difficult to take back such strong statements regarding Everton's direction, and Radio City producer David Downie didn't fail to understate the magnitude of his comments:

There is a chance Everton can convince their talismanic forward—who has scored 19 times in the Premier League this season—Goodison Park is the place for him with the addition of high-calibre stars this summer.

Merseyside writer Richard Buxton took an alternative approach to Lukaku's quotes and suggested it was the club who should be vying to match his expectations:

The Toffees broke their transfer record in order to sign Yannick Bolasie from Crystal Palace for a fee of £30 million last summer, bearing in mind it was £28 million man Lukaku who held that record before him.

But it's evident now Lukaku wants to see more in that regard, although Everton may never be able to offer enough in order to convince their title-hungry asset to stay.