Everton's majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has claimed that Ronald Koeman's comments about Romelu Lukaku have been taken out of context.
The Everton boss appeared to suggest that Lukaku needs to leave Goodison Park in order to fulfil his potential, naming his former club Barcelona as a possible destination.
However, Moshiri has moved to ease concerns by playing down the comments as simply "player-coach talk".
"It has been taken out of context," Moshiri told talkSPORT.
"Ronald Koeman said he believes Romelu will develop into one of the best strikers in the world in the next two to three years and wouldn't be out of place at his old club, Barcelona. It is just player-coach talk."
Lukaku has scored seven goals in 10 Premier League appearances for the Toffees so far this season.