Not Replacing Lukaku Was Ronald Koeman’s Mistake – Peter Reid

Ronald Koeman committed a “big, big mistake” by not replacing Romelu Lukaku, according to Peter Reid.

Reid told Sky Sports News: “I think it was about a year ago Evertonians and the club knew that Lukaku was going.

Now, if I’m the manager my priority is to get a striker in. I don’t care who’s doing the buying, who’s doing the selling, if Lukaku goes the first one in is a striker.

“Everton didn’t do it. I think [Jordan] Pickford the goalkeeper has been brilliant. Apart from that I think the others have had a bit of a struggle but Lukaku had to be replaced by a top-quality striker.

“The football club didn’t do it and it was a big, big mistake in my opinion.”

Reid added Everton had not fought well enough in recent matches and he questioned the manner of some of the defeats, but he would not be drawn on who should be the next man at the helm.

“For me it’s got to be sooner rather than later because we are in a relegation fight now. When you are bottom of that league and the pressure is on and confidence isn’t there you need a manager, you need a fresh outlook, you need more enthusiasm.

“Don’t ask me for names because I am hopeless at anything like that but it has got to be soon.”