Conte’s grand plan has been torn apart

CHELSEA clung all day to the notion that Romelu Lukaku’s heart might pull him to Stamford Bridge but as Manchester United wired him up for a medical the readings proved it was beating for Old Trafford. The turning of Lukaku will send shockwaves through the home of the Premier League champions and heighten tensions between manager Antonio Conte and chief transfer negotiators Marina Granovskaia and Michael Emenalo. Were they caught napping? Did complacency creep in? Were they outfoxed by Jose Mourinho and Lukaku’s agent Mino Raiola? Was this Mourinho’s revenge? Conte, according to several reports from his native Italy, had already started to fume about Chelsea’s inactivity in the market. In return, some influential figures at the Bridge hold him responsible, since he took it upon himself to text Diego Costa, scorer of 20 Premier League goals last season, and inform him he was not part of his plans. Costa has started saying his goodbyes to Chelsea team-mates and an offer is expected in the coming days from Atletico Madrid. To lose the top scorer without an established replacement in place is an unfathomable setback for Chelsea at this stage. Lukaku was one they thought was in the bag. They knew the asking price and could afford it, although they were reluctant to push far past £60million and as they thought they knew Mourinho’s opinion of Lukaku, they did not expect United to make a serious move. Lukaku has been in regular contact with Conte, who assured him he was his number top target. Now they are expected to explore a move for Alvaro Morata, well known and admired by Conte, who was Italy boss when the Real Madrid striker spent two years at Juventus. Andrea Belotti, who scored 28 goals for Torino last season, is another he likes, although he has a release clause in his contract set at £87m. The simplest solution would be to kiss and make up with Costa were it not for a relationship broken by Conte’s text message.