Chelsea transfer news: Prolific striker not interested in return
Romelu Lukaku isn’t thinking about Chelsea
As rumours continue to swirl about Diego Costa’s future at Chelsea, it’s natural to start contemplating potential replacements. Unfortunately for fans of the Blues, it doesn’t sound like Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is interested in a return to Stamford Bridge.
When asked about a January move to Chelsea, Lukaku responded that his sole focus is with Everton. He acknowledged writers will undoubtedly connect him with a move back to his former club, but he knows he can’t control the press. All in all, his comments sounded like a player who is very content with his current situation.
Those comments should cause Everton fans to celebrate. The Toffees are basking in the glow of a 4-0 drubbing of Manchester City this weekend which saw their Belgian hit man find the back of the net. Ronald Koeman’s club is unlikely to break into the top four this season, but momentum does seem to be building for the Merseyside club.
Losing Lukaku could prove devastating for Koeman’s project. HIs combination of strength and speed allow him to torment Premier League defenses. He also showcases sufficient work rate to please his demanding gaffer. Lukaku is clearly a player that Koeman wants to build around.
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Of course, those are the same reasons that Chelsea would be interested in acquiring him. In many ways, he’s a young version of Costa. He certainly has more pace than the current Chelsea striker, but both men use their physical frames to wreak havoc in the six-yard-box. In several years as Lukaku’s pace begins to fade away, it’s easy to envision him patterning his game after Costa.
It’s important to note that while Lukaku did reaffirm his current commitment to Everton, he didn’t slam the shut on a potential move back to Chelsea. Given the wealth of financial resources available to the Blues, you can never rule out this sort of move. If Roman Abramovich were to post a truly outrageous offer, Everton could feel compelled to accept it.
Next: 5 strikers that could replace Diego Costa
For the moment, Romelu Lukaku is saying all the right things about his relationship with Everton. If Chelsea want to pry him away from the Toffees, it’s going to cost them a mountain of cash in terms of wages and transfer fee.