Lukaku holds talks with Tottenham and Everton

[redhorizon2]

Lukaku holds talks with Tottenham and Everton over £20m summer switch

By John Edwards

Romelu Lukaku's agent has admitted holding talks with Tottenham and Everton over a £20million summer move for the Chelsea striker.
Sportsmail revealed earlier this week that the Stamford Bridge club are ready to sell the Belgian and his representative, Christophe Henrotay, confirmed he had held discussions with White Hart Lane chairman Daniel Levy.
But Henrotay has also discussed a permanent deal with Everton, in the midst of Lukaku’s current season-long loan at Goodison Park, and it is clear Roberto Matinez’s side are in pole position to complete a transfer.

On his way: Romelu Lukaku is set to leave Chelsea this summer with Tottenham and Everton interested

Sharp shooter: Lukaku has netted 15 times for Everton this season since joining on loan from Chelsea

In with a shout: Lukaku will be vital to Everton's chances of reaching the Champions League


‘I have had talks with Daniel Levy, but there is nothing agreed with Tottenham,’ said Henrotay. ‘I am talking to different clubs, but it is true that there are not exactly 20 clubs who can afford Romelu.’
Apart from finance, Champions League football is the other element that could determine Lukaku’s future, and if Everton can overhaul Sunday’s opponents Arsenal for fourth place, they will be virtually home and dry in the race to sign him.
He has settled well on Merseyside and responded positively to spearheading an Everton bid for a Champions’ League spot that will gather momentum, if they can close in on Arsenal by beating them at Goodison this weekend.
Chelsea are prepared to sell Lukaku despite struggling in front of goal this season. Jose Mourinho criticised his frontmen after his side's 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.

FOOTBALL FREESTYLE with Romelu Lukaku

Flop: Fernando Torres looks set to finally leave Chelsea this summer after yet another poor season

Blunt: Samuel Eto'o (left) has only been effective at Stamford Bridge and Demba Ba has been used sparingly



‘I’m not happy with my strikers’ performances so I had to try things,' he said.
‘And with Andre [Schurle] at least I know we have one more player to have the ball, one more player to associate with the other players, even though he’s not a striker.
‘But football is not just about that. It’s also about scoring goals, getting behind, and that is for strikers. Real strikers. And I had to try.
‘It’s difficult for us to score goals, especially when the games are tight. It’s difficult for us to transform the half-chances into chances.
‘And when you make a defensive mistake, you are in trouble.’

 

[Mystic]

Lukaka is an idiot if he goes to Spurs over Everton, he'll become more of a journeyman than Zenden at the rate he's going. Saying that, I think Lukaka alongside Soldado would work very well, I think Lukaka is the kind of striker Soldado needs to play with. By the by, he's loved at Everton, if they can afford to get him, he try his best to stay there. Madness that Chelsea aren't going to keep him though.

 

[HC]

Haha, convenient timing- I've never been that impressed with him, dont think he will be the Drogba many expect.

If I was chelsea I'd take the 20m and reinvest in Costa or someone

 

[cloggypop]

He's no Bony

 

[redhorizon2]

I think we should go for him, a good third option.

 

[iseered]

Lukaka is an idiot if he goes to Spurs over Everton, he'll become more of a journeyman than Zenden at the rate he's going. Saying that, I think Lukaka alongside Soldado would work very well, I think Lukaka is the kind of striker Soldado needs to play with. By the by, he's loved at Everton, if they can afford to get him, he try his best to stay there. Madness that Chelsea aren't going to keep him though.

A journeyman is he who has completed an apprenticeship and is fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master.

 

[gkmacca]

Mourinho needs to bomb out his strikers and rebuild that part of the squad, so as has been said, it seems crazy for Chelski not to keep Lukaku.

 

[Woland]

I'm surprised Maureen doesn't want him back.

He must already have a deal in place for Diego Costa or something, coz Lukaku is better than anyone else at Chelsea. And it's not like he's a dissimilar player to Drogba.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I think we should go for him, a good third option.

Not that I don't think he's a good player, but I actually think he'd have a detrimental effect on the way we play. He should stick with Everton or Chelsea.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Haha, convenient timing- I've never been that impressed with him, dont think he will be the Drogba many expect.

If I was chelsea I'd take the 20m and reinvest in Costa or someone

You forget that he is 21 years old next month. At his age, Drogba was scoring 12 goals with Le Mans. Diego Costa at 20 was scoring 5 goals on loan at Celta and then 9 goals on loan at Albacete.

At 18/19, he was already scoring 17 goals for West Brom, in 35 games (20 starts). He's been injured a bit this season, but still has kept up his 1 in 2 scoring rate, with 12 goals and 6 assists in 24 games (22 starts).

He may or may not end up as another Drogba, but even if he stays at the current level, that's very good output from the lad. 20m for a lad that contributes 15 to 20 goals a season - I'll take that in the current market.

 

[keniget]

I'm surprised Maureen doesn't want him back.

He must already have a deal in place for Diego Costa or something, coz Lukaku is better than anyone else at Chelsea. And it's not like he's a dissimilar player to Drogba.

I think they will end up with Costa. Shame because he will likely be very good for them and much like Drogba, the rest of the league will absolutely hate him.

 

[Silver Sean]

Mourinho needs to be bombed out his strikers and rebuild that part of the squad, so as has been said, it seems crazy for Chelski not to keep Lukaku.

 

[keniget]

Lukaka is an idiot if he goes to Spurs over Everton

Why?

I'd go to Spurs over Everton.

 

[Modo]

I think we should buy him just to piss off Everton

 

[Best Believe It]

I'm surprised Maureen doesn't want him back.

He must already have a deal in place for Diego Costa or something, coz Lukaku is better than anyone else at Chelsea. And it's not like he's a dissimilar player to Drogba.

Mourinho doesn't like him, it's got nothing to do with how good he is or whether he'd fit into Chelsea's way of playing. He's pissed Maureen off, so he'll be allowed to leave.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

Of course you'd go to spurs. Everton are a bad window away from implosion. Lakaku goes, Barry doesnt resign and Barclay leaves, Mierles goes after a good WC and it'll be a huge blow for them.

At least spurs have some decent core players

 

[Insignificance]

Of course you'd go to spurs. Everton are a bad window away from implosion. Lakaku goes, Barry doesnt resign and Barclay leaves, Mierles goes after a good WC and it'll be a huge blow for them.

At least spurs have some decent core players

But no manager.

 

[Judge Jules]

Love the way there are three different versions of Lukaku's surname in this thread alone. 😀

As for the choice between Tottenham and Everton, in Lukaku's position I'd be tempted to stick with what I knew. At this stage it's impossible to forecast with any certainty what kind of club Tottenham are going to develop into, and that's not going to change if they sign up van Gaal either, because he could make or break them. Martinez on the other hand clearly knows what he's doing and is proving he can work within the constraints at Everton, plus Lukaku's already a hero there.

 

[Mystic]

Why?

I'd go to Spurs over Everton.

I just think there is more stability at Everton, he's guaranteed to be first choice at Everton, and already has a good relationship with the manager and the fans. If he goes to Spurs it will be his fourth premier league club in four years and he'll have to start all over again and one dip in form and he's out in the cold. I think he should concentrate on building some consistent form with one club over a number of seasons.

 

[Insignificance]

Why?

I'd go to Spurs over Everton.

Nah. Everton will play in CL. You get to live on Merseyside... Fuck Spurs.

 

[Best Believe It]

Spurs are likely to remain a mess so long as Daniel Levy is involved.

 

[localny]

How many managers will Spurs go through over the course of a players contract

 

[Hansern]

Of course you'd go to spurs. Everton are a bad window away from implosion. Lakaku goes, Barry doesnt resign and Barclay leaves, Mierles goes after a good WC and it'll be a huge blow for them.

At least spurs have some decent core players

They've signed Patrick Barclay??

 

[Hansern]

I'll be surprised if Maureen wants shut. They'll get rid of Torres, Ba and Eto'o.
Signing Costa and getting Lukaku back would improve their striking options dramatically.

The only chance Everton have of signing him is if they get CL footy imho.
If he's up for sale you'll probably see teams like Arsenal, Dortmund, Atletico part of the Costa deal etc being interested.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

They've signed Patrick Barclay??

Patrick Barclay, Patrick Stewart. Never in the same room. Coincidence?

 

[Judge Jules]

I'll be surprised if Maureen wants shut. They'll get rid of Torres, Ba and Eto'o.
Signing Costa and getting Lukaku back would improve their striking options dramatically.

The only chance Everton have of signing him is if they get CL footy imho.
If he's up for sale you'll probably see teams like Arsenal, Dortmund, Atletico part of the Costa deal etc being interested.

I reckon they might well get Champs League (though I don't think they'll get far in it).

 

[Hansern]

I reckon they might well get Champs League (though I don't think they'll get far in it).

My money is still on Arsenal but they're in with a great chance. The 3rd round qualification will be really tough for them though.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Spurs will likely be able to pay more. While there's a risk with choosing Spurs, in terms of manager longevity, they have, at least on paper, a deeper squad.

With Everton, there are a few risks - topmost of which is whether Martinez will stay long enough there. Then there's the question of whether they will invest enough in players or at least be able to repeat the success in loaning players. Not least of all, is the upcoming rejig of part of the backline - Distin is 36, Jagielka is 31 and Howard is 34 - though as a keeper, he'll probably have more years left.

The first two parts are widely known risks. The last part is probably more contentious. The backline they have now was bequeathed to him by Moyes - will Martinez be able to do replace three of the back five in the next couple of seasons as effectively as he's done in improving their playing style? Martinez bought a shit load of attacking players at Wigan at very low prices and some of these turned out to be good deals, but I don't think he's ever bought a decent defender (as in a defensive player, not an attacking wingback).

The biggest spending he's lavished on a centreback is 5m+ on Ivan Ramis, and then another 3m+ on a Robbie Stam, a fullback. If you look at Wigan's spending patterns, you'll know these happen to be at or near to the top end of their normal spending range. The centreback is still with Wigan in the Championship now while the fullback has since been sold to Standard Liege. I know Wigan doesn't spend much, but you'd have thought that a club which let in goals for fun during his time would maybe have looked at fixing their defence properly. Or maybe he's just not that good at it? For the record, Wigan leaked 79, 61, 62 and 73 goals during his tenure.

So anyway I digress. But yeah, I think Spurs is a less risky move.

 

[juniormember]

I hope Everton qualify for the Champions League and get Lukaku.
I want the true rivalry in Liverpool back. And hopefully to see United outside the top positions, just like in the 80s.

 

[Judge Jules]

Count me out of hoping that the blueslime do well. They cause us more than enough trouble as it is.

Agree about the Mancs though.