Depending on which paper you read, or what online publication you frequent, you’ll have been given a different valuation on exactly how much Belgian starlet Romelu Lukaku is worth to his club side Anderlecht. I’ve seen price-tags ranging from £15-27m placed on the 17-year-old striker’s head. Now, according to a number of sources, Anderlecht’s general manager Herman Van Holsbeeck has been in London trying to finalise a deal with Chelsea.
The belief is that Andelecht are willing to sell the prodigious youngster to Chelsea for £15m, providing they can get their hands on Genk winger Kevin De Bruyne for £5m. Chelsea will then have first-option when it comes to buying De Bruyne in three years time. That might sound needlessly complicated, but it boils down to Chelsea being offered two uniquely talented youngsters for a fee of around £20m.
Chelsea’s problems upfront have been well documented this season and I would suggest have also been exaggerated. I fully expect Fernando Torres to kick on next season, once he’s had a proper pre-season with the rest of the squad and the return of Daniel Sturridge will also add strength and depth to the Blues attacking options. Whilst I wouldn’t be too keen to hold on to Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba has at least another season in him at the top level.
If Chelsea are to make changes upfront, it’s my hope that they bring in a striker who has already proven themselves in a top European League. Perhaps that man may be Napoli’s Edinson Cavani or Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero but it’s not Lukaku who is much too young and inexperienced. Whilst I understand that he’s a talented youngster, he would still represent a gamble and an expensive one at that.
I’m sure people will be keen to point out that Lukaku has racked up 37 goals in two seasons at Anderlecht. But it’s important to remember that these goals were scored in the Belgian League
I would also argue that purchasing Lukaku would exacerbate Chelsea’s tendency to hit the ball long to their strikers, something that would damage Torres’ development with the Blues. It’s been widely acknowledged that Chelsea just aren’t playing to Torres’ strengths this season and the purchase of Romelu Lukaku would represent another step backwards in that regard.
I’d also worry about Sturridge’s future at the club if Romelu Lukaku was brought in. Sturridge has proven during his loan spell at Bolton that he can produce the goods. He has the talent and ability to make it at the club, so why should Chelsea look elsewhere for their young talent?
On paper, £15m for Lukaku isn’t a bad deal. Given the consequences of the deal that I’ve listed above, however, I’d argue that it’s one transfer that Carlo Ancelotti shouldn’t give his blessing.
By Harry Cloke for This Is Futbol
Why spending money on player that can’t start match? Borini and sturrige are better than lukaku..we always go for names becos other clubs are going for he..let drogba ,anelka, maluda go and buy one proven striker and recall kakuta,sturrige and borin.and tire of long ball system
I agree with ^^^^^. Buy neymar and hamsik. Id also try and swap drogs and cash for ozil or benzema. No need for kaka. He’s to old now. I’m ready to see some style, with pace annd creativity @ the bridge. I’m sure roman will open the check book again this summer. If not…we ll be lucky to be in the top 4 next season with city spending, and liverpool improvin weekly.
I love reading these articles i am not sure who is responsible for buying players at chelsea. Our problems are not strikers. we have Drogba, Torres, Sturidge. These three will be enough for next season. All we need is width Sanchez and Harzard, A good creative midfilder in the mould of Modric, Schnider, Willian or Pastore. We will also need one strong and reliable defencive midfielder Tiote or Sandro will do. We can also try Luiz in that role and play Alex along terry at the back. A right back like Wiel of ajax would also do for me. In Sanchez, hazard, Modric/Willian/Pastore, Sandro/Tiote, and Vandar wiel.
Cech
V Wiel Alex Terry A cole
Luiz Ramires
Modric
Sanchez Torres Harzad
Bench
Drogba
Sturidge
lampard
Josh
Ivanovic
Essien
Benayoun
Turnbull
Van an Holt
out
anelka
malouda
kalu
mikel
bosingwa
zhirkov
Ferreira
Mancieni
Bruma
what chelsea is lacking is creativity.if chelsea will improve they will have to drop the likes of lampard,malouda,drogba and anelka.and bring in sanchez,edin hazad,pastore and aguero.with these player chelsea success will be sure and a coach like hindik .will be able to manage the club.
agree..
Our team needs creative midfielders. I’m especially tired of watching Lampard passing the ball backwards. I think he’s on the decline already. I can still remember in the past his excellent and amazing passes that led to goals. I’ve seen none this year from him.
Sure every now and then he will score, but his plays overall is not positive / creative.
I understand ur concern , I wud wnt lukaku cuz he can help us change our game if torres is marked out… And 4 torres 2 play 2 his best, CA needs 2 play josh and width is seriously needed , we shud get 2 wingers, maybe neymer, sanchez , hazard,nobody talks abt Elia(hamburg) d boy is gud and wud b cheap
dear chelsea funs what we need now are creative midfielders and natural wingers players like modric,lukaku,van dar weil defender,sancez,harzard and let ou likes of lampard,anelka,kalu,maluda,bruma.
Cavani might fit better in Chelsea’s squad. Italian football is more competitive than Belgian football. I wouldn’t choose Lukaku if I had more options to choose from.
Id say either Cavani or Falcao should come to Chelsea instead of lukaku and Sanchez ,Pastore or cambiasso i mn midfield area