Conte steps up £60m Lukaku hunt
CHELSEA are stepping up their bid to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth around £60million.
The Everton striker, who appeared in yesterday’s pre-season friendly against Real Betis, is keen to return to the club he left two years ago for Merseyside.
New Blues boss Antonio Conte has been anxious to reinforce his attacking options but was unable to secure top targets Gonzalo Higuain, who joined Juventus for £75m, or Edinson Cavani of Paris Saint-Germain.
A move for Alvaro Morata was also rebuffed and, after he rejoined Real Madrid from Juventus earlier this summer, seems very unlikely to be concluded during this transfer window.
Chelsea played against Real in the International Champions Cup in Ann Arbor, Michigan, last night and Morata started up front for the Spanish giants before a crowd of more than 100,000.
Conte’s efforts to lure Carlos Tevez back to English football also failed with the Argentine insisting he wanted to stay at Boca Juniors.
Lukaku is the last of their big targets and a deal is still on the cards even though Everton value the 23-year-old at £75m.
However, Chelsea believe they can land the Belgian with a package of around £60m.
Lukaku moved to Stamford Bridge from Anderlecht for £18m in the summer of 2011 but started only one Premier League game for the London club.
He was loaned out to West Bromwich Albion and Everton before making the move to Goodison Park permanent two years ago in a £28m switch.
Last year, in all competitions, he scored 25 goals.
Chelsea have signed Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi from Marseille and midfielder N’Golo Kante from Leicester, both for £30m.
Lukaku would take the number of Belgium internationals at Stamford Bridge to four, with Batshuayi, Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois in the squad.
Diego Costa has complicated the situation up front for Conte.
Costa has been keen to re-join his former club Atletico Madrid but Chelsea have insisted he is not for sale.
Atletico yesterday completed the signing of French striker Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla for £28m which indicates they may have given up on landing Costa.
Costa has been unable to train properly this week due to back pain and was told by Conte he will not play until he can train fully.