Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew believes that he has seen enough from Everton striker Romelu Lukaku to suggest that he will become the next Didier Drogba.
This was the pre-context under which Chelsea signed him from Belgian club Anderlecht. Chelsea paid a whopping £ 18 million even when he was a teenager and largely unproved at the top level. Their faith was repaid when he was sold to Everton for almost £ 30 million. However, many regard this purchase as being advantageous for Everton rather than to Chelsea, as Lukaku had all the qualities to become a great striker.
After struggling to score goals in his first permanent season with Everton, Lukaku has been amongst the top goal scorers in the 2015-16 season. The striker came up with an equaliser against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park. This denied the opportunity to get three points for Pardew, who watched his team take the lead through Scott Dann with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. The former Newcastle United manager has now seen Lukaku move up to second place in the goalscoring charts with 12 so far. He reckons that if the striker continues his rate of development, he would be the next Drogba – one of the greatest strikers to grace the Premier League.
“He is the full number nine. We looked at the iconic one of the last 10 years, Drogba.You have to say Lukaku does look like he could emulate that.Lukaku is an unusual player in that he’s naturally left-footed. I think for a striker that is an advantage.Most defenders are defending right-footed players, and he gives them a slight problem which sets him apart,” said Pardew. Everton manager Roberto Martinez has consistently maintained that Romelu Lukaku would become one of the best strikers in the world.