Lukaku's loan move from Chelsea to Stoke scuppered
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Chelsea make £18m move for Lukaku with Belgian sensation on verge of Blues move
The new Drogba? Anderlecht and Belgium teenager Romelu Lukaku is wanted at Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku is closing in on his dream move to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea lodged an £18million bid for the Belgium striker.
Sportsmail revealed on Saturday that Anderlecht general manager Herman van Holsbeeck was in London for talks with Chelsea about a fee for a player dubbed the new Didier Drogba.
The negotiations have led to an offer that should clear the way for the 18-year-old to fulfil a lifelong ambition.
Sources close to Anderlecht believe the bid will be accepted and that Lukaku’s agent Christophe Henrotay will begin talks over personal terms, which should be a formality, after the powerfully built star made no secret of his wish to join Chelsea.
Anderlecht have already planned for Lukaku’s departure and hope to announce the signing of Liverpool forward Milan Jovanovic.
Lukaku is set to become Andre Villas-Boas’ second signing as Chelsea manager following the acquisition of Genk keeper Thibaut Courtois, who was awaiting permission from the former Porto coach to fly out to Spain for a season-long loan with Atletico Madrid.
Lukaku’s capture will raise questions over the futures of Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, although both seem keen to stay for another season at least.
Anelka has confirmed he plans to run down the final year of his contract rather than leave this summer.
It is unclear how Villas-Boas will accommodate all his strikers given the wealth of talent at his disposal.
Stiff competition: Fernando Torres is just one of several top-class strikers already on Chelsea's books
Fitting in Anelka, Fernando Torres and Drogba was a puzzle former manager Carlo Ancelotti was unable to solve last season, and the signing of Lukaku, as well as the return to the club of Daniel Sturridge, will increase the competition for a place in the Chelsea team.
But Anelka, 32, insists: ‘I’m OK with one year, that’s fine for me. Even if there’s an offer from someone else I don’t care because I am seeing out my contract at Chelsea. After that, we’ll see what happens.’
It points to a lucrative free transfer next summer for a £100,000-a-week striker who has won almost all there is to win in the game and commanded transfer fees nearing a total of £90million.
Chelsea might have liked to sell Anelka or Drogba this summer to recoup cash and buy someone more compatible with Torres as Villas-Boas reshapes the team.
The new boss has yet to play two strikers in tandem in a pre-season game but has been looking at it in training ahead of today’s friendly against the Malaysia All-Stars XI.
The old Drogba: Lukaku's arrival would also put pressure on veteran Ivory Coast striker Didier (right)
Anelka is more adaptable than Drogba or Torres. Under Ancelotti, he ended the season as third-choice striker but was often asked to play wide or deeper, in the hole. At least he did it without sulking.
‘Maybe 10 years ago that would have been me but times change and it’s not me now,’ Anelka said with a smile.
‘When you play all the time, then you stop, it’s difficult but it is part of the game. When you play for a team like Chelsea you have to fight for your place. We have a lot of good strikers.’
Anelka, branded an expensive misfit when he joined Real Madrid from Arsenal, understands the pressure on Torres, who has scored only one competitive goal since his club-record £50m transfer from Liverpool in January.
‘It was difficult in the beginning for him but I think he looks better,’ said the Frenchman.
‘He’s scored and you will see an improvement this season. Everybody knows his quality.’
Drogba, 33, is also into the final year of his deal, although he is open to the idea of signing an extension.
Anelka said: ‘Didier has nothing to prove. He has scored a lot of goals at Chelsea and he is happy because, if the club sign a big striker, then he still wants to win and he’s happy to have someone who can help to bring more trophies.
‘That’s good for Didier, for us, for the fans and the team.’
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Augero much better option... :(
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Augero also cost x2 in price...
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Chelsea up bid for Lukaku to £20m as Villas-Boas looks to boost striking options
Wanted man: Anderlecht's Romelu Lukaku could be set for a move to Chelsea
Chelsea have returned to Anderlecht with an improved £20million bid for teenage striker Romelu Lukaku after their previous offer of £18m for the 18-year-old had been rebuffed.
Lukaku has also attracted interest from Arsenal and Tottenham while Anderlecht plan to sign Liverpool forward Milan Jovanovic as a replacement.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are continuing to monitor developments on Palermo midfielder Javier Pastore.
Reports in Italy suggested a £39m offer from Paris Saint-Germain had been accepted for the 22-year-old Argentina star who had been linked with Manchester United.
Big spenders: PSG have made a bid for Chelsea target Javier Pastore
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Lukaku in no rush to join Chelsea as Anderlecht striker considers his options
Flying start: Romelu Lukaku scored for Anderlecht on the first day of the season
No pressure: Lukaka (right) has been dubbed the new Didier Drogba
Chelsea's chances of signing Romelu Lukaku this summer have receded after the Anderlecht striker said he is happy to remain in Belgium.
The 18-year-old has been the subject of a £20million bid from the Stamford Bridge club as they seek to add youthful vigour to their ageing strikeforce.
But Lukaku has denied he has his heart set on a move to London.
'I want to go to a club where I can develop further. It’s not that I just want to be transferred to Chelsea,' he said.
'At the moment I am patient. I remain at Anderlecht and I am not thinking of a transfer.'
Lukaku added that if he did leave Anderlecht he wouldn't join a club that would then loan him on.
Recent Chelsea signing, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, was immediately sent to Atletico Madrid.
'When I do leave, it will not to be lent on as Thibaut Courtois has been,' Lukaku stressed.
Sportsmail revealed last month that Anderlecht general manager Herman van Holsbeeck had been in London for talks with Chelsea about a fee for a player dubbed the new Didier Drogba.
The negotiations led to an opening offer but there has been no movement since.
Lukaku admitted earlier this year that he dreamed of playing for Chelsea when he filled in a questionnaire for school children.
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Chelsea confirm Lukaku fee agreed
By ESPNsoccernet staff
Romelu Lukaku is set to become Chelsea's third summer signingChelsea have agreed a fee with Anderlect for the transfer of precocious Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, who will complete a move to Stamford Bridge subject to him passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.
Lukaku, 18, has been linked with the Blues throughout the summer, but appears set to finally seal a switch to the three-time Premier League champions.
"An agreement has been reached with Anderlecht for the transfer to Chelsea of striker Romelu Lukaku," a statement on Chelsea's official website said. "The move is now subject to the player passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.''
Anderlecht also confirmed the news on their official wesbite: "RSC Anderlecht and Chelsea have reached an agreement regarding the transfer of Romelu Lukaku.
"Subject to the results of medical tests and the conclusion of negotiations between the player and the English club, Romelu Lukaku will therefore move into the colours of the London club.''
Anderlecht general manager Herman van Holsbeeck added: "We regret the departure of Romelu...but the agreement is a win-win situation for the player and RSC Anderlecht. The club's management is committed to finding a good replacement in the short term. We wish him every success for the rest of his career.''
The player posted a comment on Twitter which read: "I have an announcement to make...Next week I'm going to London for the medical tests.''
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is now closing in on the third signing of his reign, and admitted after Saturday's friendly against Rangers that a deal was close.
"He is a very interesting young prospect and the situation is now that we have to position ourselves to maybe get this kind of talent," Villas-Boas said. "So I would say that anything can happen.''
Lukaku scored 16 goals in 37 league appearances last season and already has two to his name in two games in the current campaign for the Brussels club.
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ON THE UP ... two-goal star SturridgeDANIEL STURRIDGE hit a brace to stake his claim in the Chelsea striker war.
The young hotshot bagged two first-half goals after Rangers' Nikica Jelavic had opened the scoring.
Sturridge dazzled on loan for Bolton last term but is down the pecking order with Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Fernando Torres in residency at Stamford Bridge.
But his double gave a nudge to boss Andre Villas-Boas, who saw Florent Malouda hit a third to wrap up the win.
Jelavic had broken the deadlock after just six minutes. Steven Naismith picked the ball up on the right and crossed for the Croat, who ghosted in at the far post and nodded home.
The Gers' lead did not last long, however, and Sturridge cashed in on Lee Wallace's 21st-minute blunder.
Dozy Wallace slipped up with Sturridge lurking, and the striker picked up the ball and rifled home.
The former Manchester City man hit the jackpot again eight minutes later — this time leaving Kirk Broadfoot red-faced.
Broadfoot's clearance was charged down by Sturridge, who then muscled into the box and thundered past Allan McGregor.
Malouda made it 3-1 on 71 minutes, nodding home Anelka's cross from the right.
Drogba was then poleaxed by Juan Manuel Ortiz in the box — only for Frank Lampard to miss from the spot.
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Lukaku steps off Eurostar for Chelsea medical ahead of £20m switch to Stamford Bridge
He's here: Romelu Lukaku arrives at St Pancras International on Monday morning
Chelsea's latest potential superstar arrived by Eurostar on Monday morning to put the finishing touches to a £16million-plus move to Stamford Bridge.
Romelu Lukaku was planning to fly in to Heathrow before making the short transfer to Chelsea's Cobham training ground for the formalities of undergoing a medical and putting his name to a five-year contract.
Instead, he opted for rail as his preferred method of transport, drawing quizzical looks from early-morning commuters, as he boarded the 8.05 Eurostar from Brussels along with his agent Christophe Henrotay.
Arriving at St Pancras just under two hours later, the pair were met by a Chelsea official for a chauffeur-driven ride to Cobham, where the 18-year old was due to have a medical and sign his long-term deal.
Chelsea started chasing Lukaka long before Andre Villas-Boas took charge at Stamford Bridge but the youngster is looking forward to working with his new boss. He said: 'He's a good man.'
All smiles: Romelu Lukaku was on an early train to the capital
On his official website, a message read: 'Romelu is having the medical test at the moment. Official communication to the press won't take place before everything has been agreed with the club.'
After pursuing him for over two years, persistence has finally paid off for Chelsea - but at a cost. They are paying Anderlecht an initial £13m, with a potential £6m to follow, depending on appearances and achievements.
They are stumping up a further £3.3m - 25 per cent of the initial outlay - for Lukaku's family, in an agreement struck between the striker and his former club, and are even understood to have agreed to meet the cost of the agent's fee.
For that, they will be recruiting a powerful, pacey frontrunner who has been widely likened to Didier Drogba and has already shown an appreciation of his new responsibilities.
Despite being pressed to share his thoughts with members of the Belgian media on his way over, he remained tight-lipped, after being told by Chelsea that his first interview must be with the club's in-house TV station.
Lukaku must be back in Brussels by 10am on Tuesday at the latest, in time for a late-morning training session prior to the squad flying out to Slovenia in the afternoon, ahead of Wednesday night's friendly international.
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another black ghost.....................
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Chelsea unveil new signing Romelu Lukaku
New boy: Romelu Lukaku shows off his new shirt
ROMELU LUKAKU is in line to make his Chelsea debut on Saturday after completing his switch from Anderlecht.
Lukaku has been handed the No 18 shirt and cannot wait to prove his worth to new boss Andre Villas-Boas.
The London club confirmed on their website today that the deal had been finalised after the two clubs agreed a fee, thought to be between £15million and £20m, for the highly-rated 18-year-old earlier this month.
The Belgium international, 18, said: "It's a dream come true.
"I dreamed to play here since I was 10, thinking about shaking hands with all those players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
"It's amazing to arrive here in a big club with big ambition. It was just what I was searching for."
Lukaku has scored twice in 10 appearances for Belgium and played 60 minutes in their goalless draw with Slovenia earlier this week.
He made his club debut at the age of 16 and netted 16 goals in 37 league games last season.
Lukaku, who goes straight into Villas-Boas' squad for Chelsea's opening home game against West Brom, is also keen to live up to his billing as 'the new Drogba'.
He added: "The comparison is nice, I like it a lot.
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imagine goalies seeing double, big drog and little drog, that's the way to confuse them...lol...torres continues to be crap....anelka is being pawned out of position, sad for a prolific striker...
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Lukaku wants a Blues brother! £18m new boy urges Chelsea to snap up sibling Jordan
Romelu Lukaku has revealed his dream is to play at Chelsea alongside his brother Jordan - and urged the Blues' scouts to take a look for themselves.
The 18-year-old Belgium striker made his Chelsea debut against Norwich on Saturday as a second-half substitute for Fernando Torres after joining the Stamford Bridge outfit for £18million from Anderlecht earlier this month.
Lukaku has a bright future ahead of him and has been hailed as the new Didier Drogba due to his powerful physique and eye for goal. But the elder brother reckons that Jordan, a 17-year-old pacy winger also at Anderlecht, might be even better than he is.
Romelu told reporters: 'I have loved Chelsea since I was a boy. Now that I have fulfilled a dream by joining Chelsea, my final one is to have my brother join me one day.
'It is our dream to play in the same team. We have done it in friendly games but, one day, we hope to do it when it matters.'
He added: 'Technically he is better than me. He is a left winger who is very skilful and strong. 'I think when the scouts see him, they will see what he can do.'
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why stop at signing younger brother ???
can sign grandma..................grandpa mah....................
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Lukaku's loan move from Chelsea to Stoke scuppered by Premier League smallprint
Big target: Romelu Lukaku made his debut against Norwich
This way to Stoke: Andre Villas-Boas with Lukaku
Stoke have been denied in their attempts to land Chelsea wonderkid Romelu Lukaku on loan.
The Belgium striker joined the Blues for £20million from Anderlecht earlier this month but faces big compeition for first-team football at Stamford Bridge.
Boss Andres Villas-Boas was willing to send him on loan to the Britannia Stadium for six months to have him ready for Chelsea in the second half of the season.
But Premier League rules state that a player bought by one club cannot be loaned to another in the same transfer window.
With Didier Drogba expected to head out to the African Cup of Nations in January, Lukaku is likely to be required back at the club.
The 18-year-old is regarded as one of the world's hottest properties and was tracked by Real Madrid before eventually opting for his boyhood club Chelsea.
Tony Pulis has built a big and powerful line-up at Stoke and the addition of 6ft 4in Lukaku would have only boosted their strength.
He currently has Kenwyne Jones, Jon Walters, Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe to call on, but would like a top-class striker to beef up his attack. Peter Crouch remains a possibility.
New signing Ulises Davila will spend a season on loan at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder joined the Blues on a five-year deal from Chivas Guadalajara earlier this month.
‘He (Davila) is an open guy who will fit perfectly into our group,’ said technical director Ted van Leeuwen. Ulises is very motivated to take Vitesse Arnhem to the top.’
Davila, who impressed for Mexico at the Under 20 World Cup this summer, is the second Chelsea player to join Vitesse after teenage defender Tomas Kalas also joined on loan.
