Former midfielder John Collins believes Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is being “disrespectful” towards the club that “made him the player he is”.
The 24-year-old delivered a crushing blow to Everton’s ambitions when he revealed to Sky Sports on Tuesday that he had reached an agreement with another club.
Everton have been determined to retain the services of their most prized asset, despite the Belgian international refusing to sign a new contract at Goodison Park.
However, the lure of Champions League football was always likely to throw a spanner in the works in an extended deal, and it now appears inevitable that he will be leaving the club this summer.
The identity of the club, however, was not revealed by Lukaku, but ex-Everton star Collins has slammed the striker for being “disrespectful” towards his current employers.
He told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show on talkSport on Wednesday, as quoted on their official Twitter account: “It’s a little bit disrespectful.
“Sometimes players go away on international duty and they think they are on a different planet and nobody hears the interviews.
“Everton have spent a lot of money on him and made him the player he is.”
Romelu Lukaku's comments regarding his future are out of order, believes former #Everton midfielder John Collins… pic.twitter.com/tRPgyN0NBH
— talkSPORT Breakfast (@TSBreakfast) June 7, 2017
Lukaku still has another two years to run on his current deal, but the Telegraph reported in March that he had declined Everton’s offer of a new deal worth £140,000-per-week.
A potential return to Chelsea has been speculated, with Lukaku only having quit Stamford Bridge after a torrid spell in 2014.
The Daily Mail have credited the Blues, as well as Premier League rivals Manchester United, with a keen interest, although Everton’s £100million valuation for Lukaku could threaten a potential deal.
Lukaku scored 26 goals from 39 appearances in all competitions during the 2016-17 campaign, in what could have been his last season on Merseyside.