Chelsea Transfer News: Romelu Lukaku Wants Everton Exit, Latest Blues Rumours

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Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has reportedly told his team-mates he wants to leave the club this summer, with Chelsea said to be keen on bringing him back to Stamford Bridge. 

That’s according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, who has stated Chelsea have lodged an offer of £68 million for the 23-year-old. However, it’s also noted the Toffees value their main goalscorer at £75 million and are unlikely to budge from that standpoint.

“Lukaku believes he has a greater chance of making an impact at Chelsea the second time round with Diego Costa still keen to join Atletico Madrid,” Jones continued. “Antonio Conte would still like Alvaro Morata too from Real Madrid as he will look to utilise at least two strikers per game.”

According to Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard, Lukaku is considering handing in a transfer request as he seeks to force a move through.

Matt Hughes and Gary Jacob of the Times (h/t Nick Sutton of BBC News) have suggested the Blues’ next bid for Lukaku will likely be under the £70 million mark and will be their last for the next two summers. In the piece, it’s noted that conditions in Everton’s deal to sign Lukaku in 2014, including the payment structure, could see the Blues negotiate a transfer short of the Merseyside club’s valuation:

The forward enjoyed a fine 2015-16 at the point of an Everton team that struggled for long spells. As these numbers from OptaJoe show, he found the net frequently:

And he has scored frequently throughout his time in English football, first on loan with West Bromwich Albion and then in his three years with the Toffees, the first of which was on loan. Lukaku uses his burly frame and sharp acceleration to get into dangerous areas and typically hits the target on his left foot.

There are still rough edges in the 23-year-old’s game that would prompt raised eyebrows at that fee. Lukaku’s touch can be erratic, his appetite for physical battles is sometimes lacking and his work rate was almost non-existent for Everton at times late last term.

With Lukaku seemingly keen to move on, Lyndon Lloyd of Toffeeweb feels Everton could benefit from a sale:

Replacing the Belgium international would be tough for the Toffees, though, especially so close to the start of the Premier League season. It’s why they’ll likely maintain their valuation of the player and why Chelsea will have to spend massive money to bring the striker back to the capital.

     

Inter Milan in for Gabriel Barbosa

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (James Benson of the Daily Star), Inter Milan are set to offer £25.4 million for Santos’ Gabriel Barbosa, who is said to be a target for Chelsea and Juventus.

It’s suggested that with the future of forward Mauro Icardi uncertain, the Serie A side are making plans for a possible replacement. And it’s reported the Nerazzurri are ready to blow Juve out of the water in pursuit of the young forward; Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror noted the Blues’ interest last month.

The Santos man is considered as one of Brazil’s brightest prospects and seems poised to make a move to an elite European outfit soon. Here’s a look at what he can offer:

While he’s flashy with the ball at his feet and the kind of player who can excite crowds, as this statistic from OptaPaolo show, Barbosa is also a clinical finisher:

For Chelsea, he’d be an intriguing option and a much cheaper purchase than someone such as Lukaku. However, the aforementioned reports suggest they may have fallen behind in their chase of the player.

The man known as “Gabigol” may not be quite ready for the Premier League yet. While he’s a hard worker and a player with brilliant technical quality, English football’s top flight would be a big step up for a 19-year-old.

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