Lukaku to Chelsea: Player himself gives hint on a potential move
Aug 2, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Romelu Lukaku could hand in an official transfer request in order to force Everton to sell him.
Chelsea are still locked in negotiations with Everton regarding their former striker’s Stamford Bridge return but are reluctant to settle for the Merseysider’s £75m asking price.
Back in April, it was first revealed that the Belgium international is keen to return to Chelsea despite a disappointing first spell at the club, where he played just one League game between 2011-14.
Chelsea are ready to spend up to £67m for the 23-year-old striker, who they sold to Everton for £28m only two years ago.
With less than two weeks to go before the start of a new season, Everton are refusing to accept Chelsea’s demands.
However, Lukaku has decided on a return to west London and is weighing up the possibility of handing in an official transfer request to force the switch through.
Lukaku has enjoyed an outstanding spell over the last three years at Goodison Park, the first of which was a one-year loan spell.
He has bagged 45 goals in the last two years since joining on a permanent basis and is not ready to upset the Everton fanbase, who have backed him throughout.
But the Belgium international is very much interested in taking his career on to the next level and feels a move back to Chelsea will help him do just that.
However, Lukaku’s chances seemed more difficult because of the tense relationship between the two clubs, who were in a similar transfer dispute over defender John Stones a year ago.
Chelsea tabled four bids for Stones only to know that Everton leaked news of the negotiations and used it as a ploy to win favour with their supporters.
It is believed Chelsea will move on to other targets if Everton doesn’t compromise.
The Blues want the Lukaku deal to complete before the opening League fixture against West Ham on August 15 and see the Belgian as a potential playing partner for Diego Costa up front.
After Real Madrid insisted Alvaro Morata is not for sale, Chelsea have very little competition for places up front with summer signing Michy Batshuayi, Loic Remy, and Bertrand Traore the other recognised strikers.
Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have been considered for a more advanced role, but new coach Antonio Conte would want to use two big target men in Costa and Lukaku to lead the line.