Romelu Lukaku not good enough to play for Manchester United, says Sir Alex Ferguson's former first-team coach

Rene Meulensteen thinks the player lacks the technical ability to start for a club like United

Lukaku has told Everton that he wants to leave the club this summer (Getty)

Romelu Lukaku is not good enough to play for Manchester United, according to the club’s former assistant manager, Rene Meulensteen.

Lukaku, who is the leading goal-scorer in the Premier League this season, rocked Everton in March when he rejected the offer of a contract extension and told the club that he wants to play Champions League football.

United are just one of the clubs scrambling for his signature – but Meulensteen does not think that the Belgian has the quality to lead their line.

Meulensteen was assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson from 2007 to 2013 and won three Premier League titles and one Champions League while at the club and is not convinced Lukaku has what it takes to fight for similar accolades.

“Don’t get me wrong here, Lukaku has obviously had a fantastic season and he is a goalscorer,” Meulensteen told talkSPORT.

“But at a club like Manchester United you need more strings to your bow.”

Meulensteen and Sir Alex Ferguson with the Premier League trophy in 2011 (Getty)

Lukaku leads the likes of Harry Kane, Alexis Sanchez and Diego Costa in the top scorers table this season, and has scored seven more goals than United’s most prolific player, the £260k-a-week Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

He has scored a total of 84 Premier League goals over the past five seasons and is still only 23-years-old.

Lukaku is Everton's leading goal-scorer (Getty)

And then there is the statistic that Lukaku has scored as many goals as Manchester United's entire team have managed at Old Trafford in the league this season.

However Meulensteen still has doubts over Lukaku’s finesse on the ball.

“What he needs to develop definitely is his game on the ball, in terms of quick combinations with his team-mates.

“That is where he falls short, I think, and it’s something that’s not as exposed at a club like Everton.

“But if you play at the highest level, your finesse on the ball in the final third, your decision making has to be absolutely spot on.

“Yes he would bring power, he would bring strength, but when you look over the years at the strikers United have had, does he fit in the same line of strikers? I don’t think so.”