The Belgian school Sint-Guido-Instituut had a documentary made about a group of students that included one Romelu Lukaku. The students visited Stamford Bridge in 2010, where a video was taken of a 16-year-old Lukaku looking down at the pitch from the stands.
I will never forget this video. It struck a chord deep in my heart. He said, “If one day in my life, I will cry, it will be the day I play here. I love Chelsea”.
When he was told to stop dreaming and keep up with the rest of the students he said, “This is not dreaming. I will do it. One day I will play here”. How right he was.
Unfortunately he joined at a time when Chelsea had Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres, so he did not get much of a look-in, making just 12 appearances with only one start and scoring no goals. When Chelsea won the Champions League, he refused to hold the trophy as he did not feel like a winner.
He joined West Bromwich Albion on loan in August 2012 and scored his first English Premier League goal in a 3-0 win over Liverpool. Good lad! He played 38 games and scored 17 goals that season, outscoring all his Chelsea rivals and establishing to all and sundry that he had the ability to succeed in England’s top league.
He returned to Chelsea in 2013 but Jose Mourinho was in charge and, as he usually does, he refused to give the young player a fair go. Lukaku played in only two games at the start of the season before going back on loan to Everton in the summer transfer window.
This decision shocked and saddened me, and my dislike for Mourinho started to grow roots.
During his loan at Everton he scored 16 goals in 33 games. I was confident that Mourinho, seeing his talent and ability to score, would call him back from Everton and play him next season. But no, Mourinho favoured his bigger name players that he had bought and sold Lukaku to Everton. He had too much pride to admit he made a mistake.
My dislike for Mourinho changed to hatred.
In the following three seasons for Everton he scored 20, 25 and 25 goals. In Europe he played nine games and scored eight goals. The top scorer at Chelsea in those seasons was Diego Costa, who scored 20, 12 and 17 goals. Good decision, Jose.
What could Lukaku have done playing in front of Hazard, Pedro and Willian? I hope we find out next season.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman knows Lukaku wants to come back to Chelsea, so he has recently put the price at $100 million. Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is a fan of his and he knows we have a big season coming up defending our title and competing in the Champions League as well.
There are multiple factors affecting the decision, including:
- Does Conte value Lukaku that much?
- Is Costa leaving?
- Does Conte rate Lukaku over Costa?
- Would Lukaku be willing to play with Costa there, not knowing if he will be number one?
- Could Conte use both on the field at the same time?
These are the many questions that need to be answered, but I am very happy that this is being talked about and I am hopeful that next season a young kid who stood looking out over Stamford Bridge will come back to the club he loves and score many goals for Chelsea.
David McDaniel
Roar Pro
The word is Andreas Christensen is on his way back from Borussia Monchengladbach where he was on load to replace JT. It was mentioned when Conte came in and he has had his club farewell after his last game just recently. He is still only 21 years old, 6'2' and is used to playing in a back 3. Gladbach tried to sign him permanently a couple of times and the previous season he was voted their player of the year. He also has played 8 games for Denmark. It is a phenomenal record for someone so young. I am very, very excited to see him back in blue.
buddy
Guest
well it will be an interesting summer to say the least. We know the club has to expand the squad in order to cope with a European campaign and it is always fun to see the speculation surrounding so many players being pedalled around the EPL and other leagues too. I want to see a young central defender with pace and a good reading of the game. i know Cahill is accepting the arm band from JT but he is not the complete central defender by any stretch and neither is Daviid Luiz. They need to look after Azpilicueta. he has been outstanding this season, maybe in the shadow of a couple of players but really solid at the back as a fullback or centrally. I first saw him a few years ago on a trip over before he was really established in the side - Ashely Cole was still there but it was easy to see just where he was going and how strong his positional game is. I'd still love to see a few more junior players given an opportunity too but it is so hard in the EPL especially next season when everyone will want to say "we beat the champions" and let's face it there are plenty of sides that can beat anyone on the right day!
David McDaniel
Roar Pro
Whatever is going to happen, we will probably have to wait until after the FA Cup Final before Costa or Conte will say anything.
David McDaniel
Roar Pro
I guess it depends on if Costa is leaving. If he is, they probably want a premier league striker who has a good scoring record and wants to come to the club. They would be willing to pay for that.
AnD
Guest
Koeman said on the weekend he expected him there next season. They've already slapped price tag on him that's almost double what you're claiming. I have outlined why they hold all the cards for any deal Lukaku may want to do. There is no negotiation going on as yet. They will have to come back with a lot better offer. Ake and Abraham would go some way to making up a shortfall of cash like your offer suggests.
David McDaniel
Roar Pro
A difference of opinion is always healthy, how boring would it be if everyone thought the same? I have a childish love for a player who has professed a love for the club I also love and his delight at being signed. I want him to succeed at Chelsea with all my heart and that makes me take the slant that I do. When I saw him I thought of Drogba straight away and I am hoping he has the same impact for us. I put down his poor performance down to age, pressure and wanting so hard to succeed. He is still only 24 and has scored in some very big games and scored at a good rate ever since joining Everton. My point is, how would he perform being supplied by players that are of a higher quality to the Everton players? Logic dictates that he will score more and is that not what we expect from a striker? Also, having a striker with his undisputed aerial ability adds another dimension to our game. Costa is good in the air, but Lukaku is a beast. Add that to his higher percentage of take ons and it starts to paint a picture. The fact that Conte and Chelsea are interested in him speak volumes for his suitability for the club.
buddy
Guest
Ok...difference of opinion here which is always healthy unless you live in a world of "I am right and you are wrong". I was never impressed with RL when he was at Chelsea. I fully accept he didn't get too many opportunities but it was his conversion rate (lack of) and sometimes his lack of work ethic that meant I was quite happy to see him leave and every-time I hear his name come up in a possible return, I make a point of watching an Everton fixture and although he scores frequently for them, I cannot see him at the next level and for me, Chelsea are the next rung on the ladder the way things are right now. He never really impresses when he plays for Belgium either! Back in the 90's I loved having Flo at the club but could see that his strike rate was not quite good enough to get the team to where they wanted to go and it didn't surprise me when they released him. Compiling lists of players that have been overlooked or rejected by clubs is quite good fun....I'm pretty sure that many moons ago, Chelsea rejected Trevor Brooking, a majestic player if ever i saw one even if Brian Clough once said "he floats like a butterfly and stings like one" - a comment he later apologised for making. anyway going off topic now but if we were watching auditions for someone's got talent - RL would get a No from me.
David McDaniel
Roar Pro
That's you opinion and I understand that, my article was based on him being a Chelsea fan and how he would do everything he could for the club. He scored in 17 EPL games this season with 4 of those against top 5 teams. Note he did not score against Chelsea. He had to bear the lions share of the goal scoring which would have been very frustrating for him whereas Costa had higher quality players around him who had a bigger share of the goals. What makes you think Lukaku will not score the same or more than Costa with the same support? This is an interesting breakdown from a Chelsea fan site that I frequent (weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com) comparing the 2: http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2017/2/27/14746272/et-tu-lulu
Kaks
Roar Guru
De Bruyne is a bigger loss than Lukaku, however we have moved on from that now and have a very good midfield so De Bruyne's loss doesnt hurt anymore. Lukaku is not required. Let someone else pay over's for a good striker who sulk's when he isn't happy.
David McDaniel
Roar Pro
He scored 25 goals this season in the premier league, only 1 from the penalty spot which was his last. His goal tally is getting higher each season as he improves and he is still young and will definitely get better. If we wait to sign him, we will regret it. Were you also happy we let go of De Bruyne?
Kaks
Roar Guru
This is Lukaku's first season where he has scored 20 or more goals in the league. Lukaku also has a habit of scoring 3 goals one game, and disappearing for the next 5. You dont win the league with inconsistent strikers like that. Chelsea dont need him. I dont want him. We have Costa (for now) and Batshuayi who looks great every time he gets a chance. Lukaku chose to sign up and play for Everton, now he thinks he's too big for Everton and doesnt try. Dont want a player with that kind of attitude at the club, I want a Michy who doesnt sulk when he sits on the bench, and runs his guts out when he gets given an opportunity. And 100million+ for his transfer? Yeh, thanks but no thanks.
David McDaniel
Roar Pro
$100 million is the offered rate so I am not sure why you say it won't get you at the negotiating table. They have asked for Tammy Abraham as part of the deal, who will not get much of a look-in with Costa / Lukaku and Batshuayi in front of him, so that would be a good deal for Chelsea and will reduce the price.
David McDaniel
Roar Pro
Most agents dangle their client in the media and Lukaku is a consistent 20 goal a year player who should be playing at a bigger club. He would play his heart out for Chelsea and would become another Drogba, I have no doubt.
David McDaniel
Roar Pro
If you are looking towards the future Lukaku is the better option as he loves the club and will not want to leave if he is playing. Costa has said he wants go back to Atletico and the Chinese rumour is never going away but I am not sure how much is in that. Lukaku has scored more goals for a worst club as is not as injury prone as Costa. I do love Costa but Lukaku is my prefered choice.
Kaks
Roar Guru
No thank you. Last thing I want is a striker who show's up for half the game's, looks uninterested, has an agent who dangles his client in the media constantly, and costs that much.
AnD
Guest
$100 million won't even get you at the negotiating table for Lukaku. Everton want £100 million and that's a fair shout considering he has 2 years left on his contract, is 24, it's a World Cup year (he cannot afford to sulk/not play) and he still has plenty of improvement left in him. I think in the end Everton will let him go for significantly less but they are letting the clubs circling know that any offer under £60 million would be considered derisory and they better come ready with their cheque book. He is a serious talent and I think he could have scored 30+ at a side like Tottenham or Chelsea comfortably. He does need to massively improve his off the ball workload though.
The Doc
Roar Guru
Nice read David and enjoy the title win! I don't think Costa is going anywhere. He is a crucial piece in the chelsea team. Quality strikers that are combative, lead the line and can score with feet and head are rare. Chelsea can pay him massive wages so I don't think he is going leave unless. Im not sure Lakaku would want to rejoin given the very reason he lift in the first place was to enjoy more gametime and opportunity. They would not function in the same team together as both probably play better as a 1 out striker that leads the line. Personally would rather Costa over Lakaku but Lakaku has age and potential in his favour. As for players lost that were on Chelsea's books - De bruyne probably the other big one that hurts.