Football
ESPN staff 8y

Everton's Romelu Lukaku: Leicester's success gives whole league belief

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has told the Daily Telegraph that Leicester's success in the Premier League this season will give smaller clubs the belief they can achieve something similar next term.

Leicester were one of the favourites to get relegated this season, however, with just 13 games of the campaign left to play they sit five points clear at the top of the table.

Everton have struggled with consistency this term, currently lying eighth in the standings, but Lukaku believes there is no reason why they cannot achieve something similar to the Foxes next term.

"Everybody is saying 'why are Leicester performing?' And credit to them they are doing fantastic things," Lukaku said. "But after this season the Premier League is going to go to a whole new level because of what happened this season.

"Everyone sees an opportunity. If Leicester can do it then why can't we do it? Everyone is going to get stronger, everyone is going to prepare themselves.

"I can't say Leicester are going to be champions or we are going to make it to the European spots. But they can and we can. It's that close. But next year? I can't wait. I am excited."

Lukaku also believes the rise of Jamie Vardy and Dele Alli this season means clubs will be more prepared to give players a chance, when in previous years they may not have, while he hailed West Ham's signing of Dimitri Payet.

"I would talk with my English teammates and say, 'this guy's a bad boy. He can play,'" he said of Payet. "And no one would know where he had come from and I was saying 'he's from Marseille.' I watch all the football -- France, Holland, Serie A, from home -- and this guy is a bad boy.

"So everybody is now going to look for a player like him or another new guy from the lower leagues who is scoring goals for fun like Vardy does. Or like Dele Alli. A player who comes from nowhere and boom! Next year every team is going to look for that.

"And then, also, superstars are going to come in. Like Manchester City have got [Pep] Guardiola. I don't know what Manchester United are going to do. Chelsea, what are they going to do? They have to spend. Arsenal have to spend if they don't win the league this year. And then us, as a team, we are going to get better as well.

"Next year, next year is going to be fun. This year is exciting, next year even more."

Despite only being 22, Lukaku has already been the subject of two big-money moves after joining Chelsea from Anderlecht for £18 million and then moving from the Blues to Everton for £28m.

The striker understands such transfer fees can place plenty of pressure and expectation on him, but he says he is currently taking it all in his stride.

"It's really good at the moment and especially for my age but I just know it's part of the game," he said. "Players like [Lionel] Messi... look at Neymar. Neymar is not much older than me but he gets tons of criticism if he does not play well. So if one day I aspire to be like one of them then why should I complain now? Just take it."

^ Back to Top ^