Everton’s Romelu Lukaku has described himself as one of the most gifted strikers in world football after scoring 25 goals in all competitions for his Premier League club last season. Despite his form in front of goal Everton finished 11th and sacked manager Roberto Martinez, although Lukaku still rates the season as his finest in terms of individual achievement. “I’m among the best. That’s good. Personally I am happy,” Lukaku said in an interview with the June edition of World Soccer magazine.”I did expect to produce a season of this calibre.”
The 23-year-old is part of Belgium’s squad for this month’s European Championship in France, where his team play Italy, Ireland and Sweden in Group E. Lukaku, who may face club mates Seamus Coleman, Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy when Belgium play Ireland on June 18, said the prospect of going head-to-head with them at the Euros had been part of the dressing room banter at the club. “They are happy to be going to France and warn me that they are going to make life difficult for us. I jokingly reply that we won’t be easy meat,” the Belgian said. Eveton have yet to appoint a replacement for Martinez.

Ancelotti to learn from Guardiola
Under the mantra ‘never change a winning team’, Bayern Munich’s new coach Carlo Ancelotti wants to build on his predecessor’s work and plans talks with Pep Guardiola before taking charge.
Guardiola walked away last month having steered Bayern to three German league titles in three years and will coach Manchester City next season. In his final season, the Bavarian giants became the first team to win four back-to-back Bundesliga titles, a run started by the Spaniard’s predecessor Jupp Heynckes in the 2012-13 season.
Ancelotti, who wants to copy Guardiola by giving his first press conference in German and is busy learning the language, will take over when Bayern’s pre-season training starts on July 11. The 56-year-old has a better record in Europe than Guardiola, having won the Champions League three times with two different clubs, in 2003 and 2007 with AC Milan then 2014 with Real Madrid, but plans to ease himself into the Munich job.
“Pep did a great job in Munich. I do not want to change too much, but to build on his work,” Ancelotti told magazine Sport Bild. “I’ve had a very good relationship with Pep Guardiola for a long time. I met him in Paris during his sabbatical (in the 2012-13 season after four years at Barcelona) and I think we will be talking to each other before the start of the season.”
One issue Ancelotti must resolve is what to do with Mario Goetze, currently on Euro 2016 duty with Germany.
The World Cup winner has endured three unhappy years in Munich, having been kept mainly on Bayern’s bench by Guardiola after failing to secure a regular starting berth. Despite reports of a return to his ex-club Borussia Dortmund or a move to Liverpool to work again with Jurgen Klopp, Goetze has said he is looking forward to the new season and Bayern has ruled out selling the 23-year-old. “I have spoken with Mario Goetze, he knows my opinion,” was all Ancelotti said on the matter with a year left on Goetze’s contract.

Spain’s Reyes to quit Sevilla
Spanish international striker Jose Antonio Reyes is set to leave his hometown club Seville for a second time, the La Liga outfit announced yesterday.
Spanish press suggested the Seville born Reyes who was a member of the 2006 World Cup squad and who is best known in Britain for a spell at Arsenal, would be joining Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray.
The 32-year-old Reyes spent seven seasons during two spells at the southern Spanish club playing 253 times for them and winning the last three Europa League titles with them, a title he also won twice at Atletico Madrid. “José Antonio Reyes is leaving Seville, putting an end to his second spell here, the most collectively successful one,” a club statement said.
Reyes was a fans’ favourite who professed his love for his hometown and cried publicly after news of his transfer to Arsenal.