OFFICIAL: Chelsea in Lukaku talks

What the rumor mill was saying has turned out to be true:

"Anderlecht have said they are in talks with Chelsea over the possible transfer of Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge.

The 18-year-old Belgian striker has been linked with a move to the Premier League runners-up for a few months.

Anderlecht general manager Herman van Holsbeeck said: "There is still a long way to go in the negotiations.

"We are indeed negotiating with Chelsea, but there are other clubs we are talking to."

The teenager has also been linked with Chelsea's Premier League rivals Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham.

He was linked with a move to England in January but instead stayed with Anderlecht until the end of the season.

The transfer could involve Blues midfielder Kevin De Bruyne joining the Brussels club on loan.

Van Holsbeeck added: "It could happen in the next half hour, it could take until 31 August - that is football."

Chelsea appear to be negotiating transfers despite being without a manager since May following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti.

This week they were reported to have had a £22m bid for midfielder Luka Modric rejected by Tottenham."

BBC

He has said that his first choice to go to a new club would be us, and his club are asking for 20m which we have reportedly agreed to pay.

Most likely in for a doubt swoop:

"Meanwhile, 19-year-old De Bruyne has apparently expressed his wish to join the Blues after helping to guide Genk to the Belgian league title.

‘Kevin is ready to step forward in his career now, he has done what he needs to at Genk and is ready for the next step,’ said his agent Patrick de Koster.

‘And Kevin wants to move to England.

‘He knows Chelsea have been following him for a long time, and Chelsea would be his first choice, I had meetings with other clubs - although nothing more than on a scouting level, but he knows what can be achieved at Chelsea.

‘Kevin, though, is happy with the prospect of joining Anderlecht (on loan) - he has stated that himself.

‘He knows Chelsea have a history of this (loaning out players) and if you do well you will get your chance.'"

I am more excited about Kevin De Bruyne then Lukaku tbh.

hopefully we don't overpay for Lukaku.

Blue wrote:I am more excited about Kevin De Bruyne then Lukaku tbh.

hopefully we don't overpay for Lukaku.

20-22m is a reasonable price for him at this market. Why aren't you that excited about Lukaku?

english_jewel wrote:

Blue wrote:I am more excited about Kevin De Bruyne then Lukaku tbh.

hopefully we don't overpay for Lukaku.

20-22m is a reasonable price for him at this market. Why aren't you that excited about Lukaku?

20-22m is not reasonable for a unproven 17 year old who has one year left in his contract. Consider this Real Madrid signed Ozil last year for only 15m.

12-16m would've been reasonable.

We don't need Lukaku if Drogba is staying, a very unnecessary buy imo.

Belgian guy who I know said this about him in December 2010:

"I just registered to comment on this topic: I am Belgian, and more even, I know Romelu in person. I live in the region he grew up in as well, although I am 7 years the elder.

Which by the way is proof that he is in no way an ID fraud like some people may still think - he grew up here from the moment he was born - he's as Belgian as I am. His parents are Congolese and his father was a professional player too. Thanks to that, he (and his brother, also a very, very talented player, playing as a left winger) has a very mature and professional approach to the game, and to his life in general. He may already be a star in Belgium, he may have been hunted by major European clubs when he was just 14, but he lets none of that get to his head. His father makes sure it won't; a wonderful man and a great tutoring dad.

Anderlecht's staff and his parents also realize he should live like a 17 year old in the first place, and as a footballer in the second only. He goes to school like a 17-year old, and he definitely wants to finish it. He just finished his mid-term exams and like every kid he's relieved they are over so he can put all of his energy into his hobby again.

I hope all of this is more than enough proof that he is in no way comparable to failed prodigies. He has everything (a good and supporting family, that knows what's best for him, a good club, a good coach, good team mates, good friends) a footballer needs to rely on to make it to the top.
The only thing that remains, developing his (many) talents, is simply all in his own hands.

And his talent is indisputable, but he can still become a lot better in everything that already makes him one of the best (if not the best) striker in Belgium. He has the raw power of the strongest striker you've ever seen as we all know, but he can still work on his balance and agility. He is a cool finisher and has very good shot technique (both footed too!), but with the years he can learn from better strikers and coaches to make more clever runs (like Villa's for example) across the pitch and position himself better to be able to get the ball with ease and to create room for himself and his team mates. He also said he wanted to work on his play-making attributes, because he's restricted to a role as a goalscorer at Anderlecht, despite having a more creative aspect in him as well that can add another dimension to his game.

So, all in all I think Lukaku has it all to really become a great. He has a stable environment, a crucial and underrated aspect in the development of all players, but he also has the will to continue to improve. Also an underrated aspect IMHO: many talented players waste their gift by considering themselves good enough despite not being good enough at all. And of course the most important aspect is the actual talent: he is no Messi when it comes to dribbling, but for his size he is a very good dribbler and he's fast too. He'll never be a Xavi or Iniesta, but I think he can develop into a good playmaking striker on top of being a killer.

I hope my whole comment doesn't go by unseen, and I welcome any questions about him."

@ Blue- How long will Drogba stay? He only has one more year left in him honestly, its good to buy a replacement for him. And I know 20m isn't reasonable generally for a an 18 year old but with this crazy market it is. You mentioned Ozil, but look at the prices Henderson and Jones are going at. Madrid got lucky with Ozil. Also, like in the comment above by a Belgian, Lukaku has a lot of potential and talent already in place, and I have full belief that he can develop those talents even further to be the next Drogba at a bigger and better club.

He is a beast and working with Drogba will make him so much better, I am excited the price is high but he will probably be at Chelsea for over 10 years.

You scared me, When I saw official I thought he signed.

Anyway, I expect this deal to happen very soon TBH.

So Kevin has already signed?

The transfer could involve Blues midfielder Kevin De Bruyne joining the Brussels club on loan.

I also think that its a biit too much for the young lad but considering that he is one of the highest paid players in their league I guess its only fair.

No, Kevin is as close as Lukaku is. I expect they'll both sign pretty soon.

Chelsea make firm Lukkau bid- BBC

The BBC is always right! Get in!

yes boss!!

18m man.. I hope its spread over at least 2-3 seasons...

Lukaku unlikely?

Everything is unlikely atm...

iNFINITY9910 wrote:18m man.. I hope its spread over at least 2-3 seasons...

doesnt matter too much, regardless of how many installments a transfer is paid in it appears on the clubs balance sheet (which is what FFP is based on) in installments for the time of the players original contract (assuming they stay at the club for time entire span of their original contract)

fatman123 wrote:

iNFINITY9910 wrote:18m man.. I hope its spread over at least 2-3 seasons...

doesnt matter too much, regardless of how many installments a transfer is paid in it appears on the clubs balance sheet (which is what FFP is based on) in installments for the time of the players original contract (assuming they stay at the club for time entire span of their original contract)

no im speaking generally... cos thats way too much for a 18 year old

Drogba going to sign a new contract. Don't think this is going through.

Its a one year contract...

What's the point on splashing the cash on Lukaku though if he's going to be on the bench behind Torres and Drogba?

lukaku wants to learn from drogba?>

ynwa wrote:What's the point on splashing the cash on Lukaku though if he's going to be on the bench behind Torres and Drogba?

Lukaku is still 18 years old.. he is for the future..