🇧🇪 Romelu Lukaku

[The only place to be 11,313]

you have kept posting the same shit on here for months .. calling him a coward ,, saying he is a quitter ,,, YOU also have pissed off a lot

of other good members .

So that's a no to proving where I might be wrong?

Sorry, but if someone wanted to refute the points I made then I'm not so stubborn that I couldn't see the value in their contribution...but no-one has.

Jose likes a certain type of player with a certain attitude. Does Lukaku fit that profile? Yes or No, it's as simple as that.

[Korea 734]

you have kept posting the same shit on here for months .. calling him a coward ,, saying he is a quitter ,,, YOU also have pissed off a lot

of other good members .

TBF, I think a ton of people here just post things to make buddies/friends, rather than give honest assessments.

Fing facebook and the "like" generation.

[Fulham Broadway 17,312]

The club/Jose can/will only invest a certain amount of time and effort in a player before cutting losses. If he thinks he's doing us a favour by staying and has an attitude to match ala Sturridge then he can fuck off. It is a shame but it has to be down to him in the end.

I think Costa & Drogba is a step up from Eto'o & Ba so I'm not too worried about striking options. I'd rather Torres go and Lukaku stay but if needs be I'd let both leave and keep Bamford as a third striker. Unfortunately I don't think anyone will take Torres so we're stuck with him. At least he's an option, for the odd day when he doesn't look like an escapee remedial.

[Stats 7,142]

Unfortunately Lukaku asked for a transfer last season so couldn't establish himself. Your refusal to blame anyone accept him is wilful ignorance of the facts we have available.

Lukaku is a good goalscorer, but Costa is better. Drogba is a better target man still at 36, has a better touch than Lukaku and is still better in the air. That is all good for tactical versatility.

Torres is a busted flush, but he's still technically superior to Lukaku. Lukaku is a good goalscorer, but the Premier League is littered with strikers who scored goals for mid-table teams and couldn't make it at top teams. Demba Ba is a case in point.

The people who think this is a mistake simply don't understand who Jose Mourinho is or what he expects from players. God knows what they actually think Mourinho respects in his lads but their lack of ability to understand the manager of the club they say their support is both mind-numbingly strange and hilarious.

So what is the point of the loan system if our excuse is because they performed at "mid-table teams?" I know Costa is better but was he anyway near the finished article at 21? Of course not and I reckon Lukaku will be as good if not better when he reaches Costa's age. Time will tell. It is funny how Martinez views him as the "complete striker" yet many people think he either one-dimensional or very limited. Before we use Lukaku as a Ba example of people scoring for mid-table teams but not being able to adapt to big teams, how about we give him a full season to prove that. Looks like he won't get that though.

Torres and Ba are both better holdup players, not slightly, but a lot better.

Lukaku for his size and strength plays like he is 5 feet tall and 150lbs. He reminds me of big man in basketball that play like shooting guards.

THe CF role in Chelsea is a different dynamic, than other teams. Tell me how great Lukaku was in the world cup, on a team with better players than everton? Thats right, he was crap.

I've said this for a while, Remy would be a better player (short term) for Chelsea than Lukaku will be this season.

Lukaku's hold up play is not excellent but it is underrated. How pivotal was Lukaku when Everton beat United at OT? His hold up play and all round game was excellent. I like Remy but I would still have Lukaku over him. If the argument is that Lukaku can't perform against teams that defend deep how can we be so sure of Remy? Martinez on Lukaku said: "he has power, pace, really good hold-up play, and on top of that he has an understanding of where to run and play".

A manager who I hold in high regard and who managed Lukaku excellently said this. So while I am not going to disagree with people and say you are chatting crap for saying his hold up play is not that good, I certainly feel you lot are going overboard because I think it is just inconsistent. The way Lukaku was put out on the RW against Arsenal and still put in an excellent display proves to me that with work with top coaches he can adapt to playing against 'ultra defensive' teams and improve his weaknesses.

"Woah, what's happening here?" - Romelu Lukaku a year ago when Chelsea signed a has-been Samuel Eto'o

If that was his reaction when faced with a challenge to compete with Eto'o and Torres for a place, do you honestly think he fancies going up against Costa either? If he goes, it was most certainly by his own request.

I see your angle, I do but let's not pretend that he is being pushed out the exit door. It pisses me of when people call him a coward. I agree he would have got more chances if he stayed last season but he saw a similar situation last season with the signing of Eto'o and his first season. He did not want a repeat. When he moved he said he wanted to come back and fight for his place. I personally reckon he would have been content to fight for his place with Costa but I also reckon it is 2 and 2. If he is looking for a move it is because he knows he is not part of Mourinho's plans which is obvious to me. If he was I am sure Mourinho would not have signed Drogba. This mentor thing was overhyped. Lukaku respects Drogba but he does not need tutoring from him and I don't think signing Drogba necassarily meant he would be persauded to stay, especially when we found out Mourinho's words on Drogba.

But tbh with you, I would rather people reserve the name-calling and assumptions until we hear Mourinho and Lukaku speak officially because I am sure Lukaku ideally would love to be here but his dream is being crushed and is being forced to look elsewhere.

[Special Juan 28,141]

his dream is being crushed and is being forced to look elsewhere.

I had a dream crushed once, I was getting a tit wank of Kim Kardashian and the wife woke me for work.

[Hamilton 2,120]

I had a dream crushed once, I was getting a tit wank of Kim Kardashian and the wife woke me for work.

Lol

[DYC. 7,542]

I had a dream crushed once, I was getting a tit wank of Kim Kardashian and the wife woke me for work.

That's disgusting.

Were they real?

[Special Juan 28,141]

That's disgusting.

Were they real?

about as real as my dream pal

[Toli 977]

ChelsTransferGossip ‏@ChelsTransfer 4m

Romelu Lukaku will join up with Chelsea in Holland tomorrow after a £30million price-tag was put on his head. #CFC #EFC (Mirror)

[J.F. 1,484]

He signed for Everton?

[Barbara 15,149]

I have a few things to say about this whole ordeal, some of which I've already said, some of which I haven't.

1) Lukaku ran away from competition last year. End of it. Yes, there was WC, but if his main goal was to displace Benteke he left because he wasn't sure he could displace Torres, Ba and Eto'o? Displacing Benteke was much harder than displacing at least two of those three. Benteke is no wonder (imo still better than Lukaku though) but he certainly is better than Torres and Ba comparatively, meaning that playing for Belgium and Villa he's better than Torres and Ba playing for Chelsea.

2) He thinks of himself more than he actually is. He wants things handled to him in a silver plate because he thinks he's earned them by scoring double figures in mid-table teams. Ba also did the same and look how different things worked for him at Chelsea. Also, Lukaku seemingly played bad for a streak at Everton last season because he was overplayed in his great start of season. So he wants to play week in and out, but when he does he shows he doesn't have stamina to keep it up - or at least that's what many Everton fans said about his acute level drop after very good first months. Not that worthy the investment and effort if you ask me. A player that is burned out after three months is something I won't miss dearly.

3) Sturridge and Lukaku are and have always been worlds apart. We made a mistake with Sturridge because of Torres mainly. If Lukaku leaves and reaches Daniel's numbers elsewhere I'll still support letting him go while I don't support letting Daniel go. It's not only about the goals, it's also about the attitude. It's a combination of both. Lukaku's attitude about a few things couldn't be worse (speaking to the media, thinking of himself morr than he is, wanting things given to him without fighting for them, running away from competition). It's a whole bad package. How many goals does he have to offer to make up for all those headaches he gives from time to time - quite often btw? Mourinho talked about dressing room disruption with Shaw's wages. Which is true (although let's not fool ourselves, he's also trying to disrupt their dressing room), but the principle is the same with Lukaku's entitled attitude. Costa - who scored frigging 34 goals - came here and when the interviewer implied he was a nail starter he immediately corrected him in that assumption and said if he wants to start matches he'll have to fight with Torres and prove his worth. Don't you think other players could be annoyed by Lukaku's approach, believing he's already done everything to prove he should start for us (barely ever wearing our shirt at all), while many of them - striker position or not - had to work their arses off with us to be in our first team or did the same in another top club? I'm not saying it would happen, but it's also a possibility.

4) He isn't that good or suitable for us anyway. He could be very good one day - but I don't see a high ceiling for him tbh - but even if he excels in what he's already good I don't think he has the qualities to actually be a top player in a club like Chelsea. It's Ba all over again. When you're in a mid-table team, other teams approach you differently than when you're in a top club, favorite to win every competition and match they enter. Defenses, midfielders play differently against Everton compared to what they do against Chelsea and Lukaku's good qualities (he has them, I'm not denying that) are much more suitable for playing in a team like Everton than at Chelsea. Teams play extra-defensively against us all the time. With his first touch, difficulty to hold the ball and general lack of technique it's much harder for him to score in those situations than against teams playing Everton equally or without an extra defensive effort. He'll receive balls in the run, he'll receive balls in the box or around it with less players around him. He'll flourish in those situations. As it stands today and seeing how he progressed in three seasons - despite the early age - I don't think he has what it takes to make it big here. He could and certainly would outscore Eto'o last season (nine goals), but all this headache for a player that could score, I don't know, 12 goals? That's what I expect from Oscar or Schurrle this year... They should score at least 12 goals if they're in form. For a striker is still not much. It's just we've been so bad in that department lately that suddenly a guy with 15 goals in the league is a wonder here.

5) Finally if he indeed leaves is because of at least one of those two things (could also be a combination of both) A- Lukaku's decision: he wanted and Mourinho thought that it wasn't a great loss. B- Club decision: Mourinho doesn't rate him (or think he's worth keeping given the bad package I've mentioned above he definitely comes with) whether that's technically or only about his attitude. In either case I guess I'll trust Mourinho's assessment, first because I happen to think the same whether A or B happens, second, Mourinho knows much better than I do (which doesn't mean he doesn't make mistakes).

Letting Lukaku go isn't a problem in itself, staying with only Torres and Droga is. One injury and we're left with a strike force as bad (if not worse) than last year's - and we don't know if Costa is prone to them or not, a player could start being prone to them like Aguero was last season and some occasions before - at any point of his career.Maybe he can't prevent Lukaku from leaving or even think he's worth the effort, but then Mourinho MUST bring another striker, especially because he spent the whole of last season complaining he didn't have strikers. If he consciously take a risk of going with only one good striker he doesn't a right to say a word if Costa is injured and we're left with only Torres and DD. I'd say someone young, inexpensive, that could learn from DD and offer us around the same goals output that Lukaku could or even a bit less. I've been saying for a while now we could use a technical striker - we don't have any in the team - because Lukaku's style is similar to Costa - except the latter is right now much better than the former. If Costa struggle against a certain kind of situation, we still have a problem because the likely of it being the same situation Lukaku struggles is huge. Neither can save us if our midfield is having an uninspired day (at least we'll have DD now for air threat in set-pieces, which is always a way to try to overcome lack of creativity). Get a talented, technical young striker around 22-23 that isn't that big yet (or maybe even doesn't have a very high ceiling), but that could offer us something different. He'll grow and mature here and we'll be more versatile. Either way, just get someone.

We don't need to have a problem with letting Lukaku go - it's not a problem per say in my book - but we can make it a problem if we're only left with those other two replacements for Costa.

[Toli 977]

ChelsTransferGossip ‏@ChelsTransfer 8m

Chelsea are playing hardball with Everton for Romelu Lukaku by placing a £30 million price tag on the striker (Telegraph) #CFC #EFC

ChelsTransferGossip ‏@ChelsTransfer 4m

Lukaku wants to return to Everton, where he spent last season on loan, but Chelsea want £30 million (Telegraph) #CFC #EFC

ChelsTransferGossip ‏@ChelsTransfer 5m

Everton are hoping to sign Lukaku on a permanent deal and are putting together a £23m plus bonuses to try to land him (Telegraph) #CFC #EFC

[iseah100 5,612]

I have a few things to say about this whole ordeal, some of which I've already said, some of which I haven't.

1) Lukaku ran away from competition last year. End of it. Yes, there was WC, but if his main goal was to displace Benteke he left because he wasn't sure he could displace Torres, Ba and Eto'o? Displacing Benteke was much harder than displacing at least two of those three. Benteke is no wonder (imo still better than Lukaku though) but he certainly is better than Torres and Ba comparatively, meaning that playing for Belgium and Villa he's better than Torres and Ba playing for Chelsea.

2) He thinks of himself more than he actually is. He wants things handled to him in a silver plate because he thinks he's earned them by scoring double figures in mid-table teams. Ba also did the same and look how different things worked for him at Chelsea. Also, Lukaku seemingly played bad for a streak at Everton last season because he was overplayed in his great start of season. So he wants to play week in and out, but when he does he shows he doesn't have stamina to keep it up - or at least that's what many Everton fans said about his acute level drop after very good first months. Not that worthy the investment and effort if you ask me. A player that is burned out after three months is something I won't miss dearly.

3) Sturridge and Lukaku are and have always been worlds apart. We made a mistake with Sturridge because of Torres mainly. If Lukaku leaves and reaches Daniel's numbers elsewhere I'll still support letting him go while I don't support letting Daniel go. It's not only about the goals, it's also about the attitude. It's a combination of both. Lukaku's attitude about a few things couldn't be worse (speaking to the media, thinking of himself better than he is, wanting things given to him without fighting for them, running away from competition). It's a whole bad package. How many goals does he have to offer to make up for all those headaches he gives from time to time - quite often btw? Mourinho talked about dressing room disruption with Shaw's wages. Which is true (although let's not fool ourselves, he's also trying to disrupt their dressing room), but the principle is the same with Lukaku's entitled attitude. Costa - who scored frigging 34 goals - came here and when asked about his position in the team with the journo assuming he's a starting XI he immediately corrected him in that assumption and said if he wants to start matches he'll have to fight with Torres and prove his worth. Don't you think other players could be annoyed by Lukaku's approached that he's done everything to prove he should start for us, while many of them - striker position or not - had to work their arses off with us to be in our first team? I'm not saying it would happen, but it's also a possibility.

4) He isn't that good anyway or that suitable for us. He could be very good one day - but I don't see a high ceiling for him tbh - but even if he excels in what he's already good today I don't think he has the qualities that actually be a top player in a club like Chelsea. It's Ba all over again. When you're in a mid-table team, other teams approach you differently than when you're in a top club, favorite to win every competition and match they enter. Defenses, midfielders play differently against Everton compared to what they do against Chelsea and Lukaku's good qualities (he has them, I'm not denying that) are much more suitable for playing in a team like Everton than at Chelsea. Teams play extra-defensively against us all the time. With his first touch, difficulty to hold the ball and general lack of technique it's much harder for him to score in those situations than against teams playing Everton equally or without an extra defensive effort. He'll receive balls in the run, he'll receive balls in the box or around it with less players around him. He'll flourish in those situations. As it stands today and seeing how he progressed in three seasons - despite the early age - I don't think he has what it takes to make it big here. He could and certainly would outscore Eto'o last season (nine goals), but all this headache for a player that could score, I don't know, 12 goals? That's what I expect from Oscar or Schurrle this year... They should score at least 12 goals if they're in form. For a striker is still not much. It's just we've been so bad in that department lately that suddenly a guy with 16 goals in the league is a wonder here.

5) Finally if he indeed leaves is because of at least one of those two things (could also be a combination of both) A- he wanted and Mourinho thought that it wasn't a great loss. B- Mourinho doesn't rate him (or think he's worth keeping given the bad package I've mentioned above he definitely comes with) whether that's technically or only about his attitude. In either case I guess I'll trust Mourinho's assessment, first because I happen to think the same whether A or B happens, second, Mourinho knows much better than I do (which doesn't mean he doesn't make mistakes).

Letting Lukaku go itself isn't a problem, staying with only Torres and Droga is. One injury and we're left with a strike force as bad (if not worse) than last year's - and we don't know if Costa is prone to them or not, a player could start being prone to them like Aguero was last season and some occasions before - at any point of his career.Maybe he can't prevent Lukaku from leaving or even think he's worth the effort, but then Mourinho MUST bring another striker. I'd say someone young, inexpensive, that could learn from DD and offer us around the same goals output that Lukaku could or even a bit less. I've been saying for a while now we could use a technical striker - we don't have any in the team - because Lukaku's style is similar to Costa - except the latter is right now much better than the former. If Costa struggle against a certain kind of situation, we still have a problem because the likely of it being the same situation Lukaku struggles is huge. Neither can save us if our midfield is having an uninspired day (at least we'll have DD now for air threat in set-pieces, which is always a way to try to overcome lack of creativity). Get a talented, technical young striker around 22-23 that isn't that big yet (or maybe even doesn't have a very high ceiling), but that could offer us something different. He'll grow and mature here and we'll be more versatile. Either way, just get someone.

We don't need to have a problem with letting Lukaku go - it's not a problem per say in my book - but we can make it a problem if we're only left with those other two replacements for Costa.

A+post. Top notch.

[zolayes 14,489]

ChelsTransferGossip ‏@ChelsTransfer 8m

Chelsea are playing hardball with Everton for Romelu Lukaku by placing a £30 million price tag on the striker (Telegraph) #CFC #EFC

ChelsTransferGossip ‏@ChelsTransfer 4m

Lukaku wants to return to Everton, where he spent last season on loan, but Chelsea want £30 million (Telegraph) #CFC #EFC

ChelsTransferGossip ‏@ChelsTransfer 5m

Everton are hoping to sign Lukaku on a permanent deal and are putting together a £23m plus bonuses to try to land him (Telegraph) #CFC #EFC

only deal is £35 for double .. Lukaku and TORRES

[Reddish-Blue 2,503]

I have a few things to say about this whole ordeal, some of which I've already said, some of which I haven't.

1) Lukaku ran away from competition last year. End of it. Yes, there was WC, but if his main goal was to displace Benteke he left because he wasn't sure he could displace Torres, Ba and Eto'o? Displacing Benteke was much harder than displacing at least two of those three. Benteke is no wonder (imo still better than Lukaku though) but he certainly is better than Torres and Ba comparatively, meaning that playing for Belgium and Villa he's better than Torres and Ba playing for Chelsea.

2) He thinks of himself more than he actually is. He wants things handled to him in a silver plate because he thinks he's earned them by scoring double figures in mid-table teams. Ba also did the same and look how different things worked for him at Chelsea. Also, Lukaku seemingly played bad for a streak at Everton last season because he was overplayed in his great start of season. So he wants to play week in and out, but when he does he shows he doesn't have stamina to keep it up - or at least that's what many Everton fans said about his acute level drop after very good first months. Not that worthy the investment and effort if you ask me. A player that is burned out after three months is something I won't miss dearly.

3) Sturridge and Lukaku are and have always been worlds apart. We made a mistake with Sturridge because of Torres mainly. If Lukaku leaves and reaches Daniel's numbers elsewhere I'll still support letting him go while I don't support letting Daniel go. It's not only about the goals, it's also about the attitude. It's a combination of both. Lukaku's attitude about a few things couldn't be worse (speaking to the media, thinking of himself better than he is, wanting things given to him without fighting for them, running away from competition). It's a whole bad package. How many goals does he have to offer to make up for all those headaches he gives from time to time - quite often btw? Mourinho talked about dressing room disruption with Shaw's wages. Which is true (although let's not fool ourselves, he's also trying to disrupt their dressing room), but the principle is the same with Lukaku's entitled attitude. Costa - who scored frigging 34 goals - came here and when asked about his position in the team with the journo assuming he's a starting XI he immediately corrected him in that assumption and said if he wants to start matches he'll have to fight with Torres and prove his worth. Don't you think other players could be annoyed by Lukaku's approached that he's done everything to prove he should start for us, while many of them - striker position or not - had to work their arses off with us to be in our first team? I'm not saying it would happen, but it's also a possibility.

4) He isn't that good anyway or that suitable for us. He could be very good one day - but I don't see a high ceiling for him tbh - but even if he excels in what he's already good today I don't think he has the qualities that actually be a top player in a club like Chelsea. It's Ba all over again. When you're in a mid-table team, other teams approach you differently than when you're in a top club, favorite to win every competition and match they enter. Defenses, midfielders play differently against Everton compared to what they do against Chelsea and Lukaku's good qualities (he has them, I'm not denying that) are much more suitable for playing in a team like Everton than at Chelsea. Teams play extra-defensively against us all the time. With his first touch, difficulty to hold the ball and general lack of technique it's much harder for him to score in those situations than against teams playing Everton equally or without an extra defensive effort. He'll receive balls in the run, he'll receive balls in the box or around it with less players around him. He'll flourish in those situations. As it stands today and seeing how he progressed in three seasons - despite the early age - I don't think he has what it takes to make it big here. He could and certainly would outscore Eto'o last season (nine goals), but all this headache for a player that could score, I don't know, 12 goals? That's what I expect from Oscar or Schurrle this year... They should score at least 12 goals if they're in form. For a striker is still not much. It's just we've been so bad in that department lately that suddenly a guy with 16 goals in the league is a wonder here.

5) Finally if he indeed leaves is because of at least one of those two things (could also be a combination of both) A- he wanted and Mourinho thought that it wasn't a great loss. B- Mourinho doesn't rate him (or think he's worth keeping given the bad package I've mentioned above he definitely comes with) whether that's technically or only about his attitude. In either case I guess I'll trust Mourinho's assessment, first because I happen to think the same whether A or B happens, second, Mourinho knows much better than I do (which doesn't mean he doesn't make mistakes).

Letting Lukaku go itself isn't a problem, staying with only Torres and Droga is. One injury and we're left with a strike force as bad (if not worse) than last year's - and we don't know if Costa is prone to them or not, a player could start being prone to them like Aguero was last season and some occasions before - at any point of his career.Maybe he can't prevent Lukaku from leaving or even think he's worth the effort, but then Mourinho MUST bring another striker. I'd say someone young, inexpensive, that could learn from DD and offer us around the same goals output that Lukaku could or even a bit less. I've been saying for a while now we could use a technical striker - we don't have any in the team - because Lukaku's style is similar to Costa - except the latter is right now much better than the former. If Costa struggle against a certain kind of situation, we still have a problem because the likely of it being the same situation Lukaku struggles is huge. Neither can save us if our midfield is having an uninspired day (at least we'll have DD now for air threat in set-pieces, which is always a way to try to overcome lack of creativity). Get a talented, technical young striker around 22-23 that isn't that big yet (or maybe even doesn't have a very high ceiling), but that could offer us something different. He'll grow and mature here and we'll be more versatile. Either way, just get someone.

We don't need to have a problem with letting Lukaku go - it's not a problem per say in my book - but we can make it a problem if we're only left with those other two replacements for Costa.

Totally agree with your post.

If we can find a 22-24 year old talented striker with a different skill-set to Costa and Drogba, I wouldn't mind cashing in on Lukaku (25 million or no deal).

[The Skipper 20,609]

I have a few things to say about this whole ordeal

[LukakutoStamford 779]

I have a few things to say about this whole ordeal, some of which I've already said, some of which I haven't.

1) Lukaku ran away from competition last year. End of it. Yes, there was WC, but if his main goal was to displace Benteke he left because he wasn't sure he could displace Torres, Ba and Eto'o? Displacing Benteke was much harder than displacing at least two of those three. Benteke is no wonder (imo still better than Lukaku though) but he certainly is better than Torres and Ba comparatively, meaning that playing for Belgium and Villa he's better than Torres and Ba playing for Chelsea.

2) He thinks of himself more than he actually is. He wants things handled to him in a silver plate because he thinks he's earned them by scoring double figures in mid-table teams. Ba also did the same and look how different things worked for him at Chelsea. Also, Lukaku seemingly played bad for a streak at Everton last season because he was overplayed in his great start of season. So he wants to play week in and out, but when he does he shows he doesn't have stamina to keep it up - or at least that's what many Everton fans said about his acute level drop after very good first months. Not that worthy the investment and effort if you ask me. A player that is burned out after three months is something I won't miss dearly.

3) Sturridge and Lukaku are and have always been worlds apart. We made a mistake with Sturridge because of Torres mainly. If Lukaku leaves and reaches Daniel's numbers elsewhere I'll still support letting him go while I don't support letting Daniel go. It's not only about the goals, it's also about the attitude. It's a combination of both. Lukaku's attitude about a few things couldn't be worse (speaking to the media, thinking of himself better than he is, wanting things given to him without fighting for them, running away from competition). It's a whole bad package. How many goals does he have to offer to make up for all those headaches he gives from time to time - quite often btw? Mourinho talked about dressing room disruption with Shaw's wages. Which is true (although let's not fool ourselves, he's also trying to disrupt their dressing room), but the principle is the same with Lukaku's entitled attitude. Costa - who scored frigging 34 goals - came here and when asked about his position in the team with the journo assuming he's a starting XI he immediately corrected him in that assumption and said if he wants to start matches he'll have to fight with Torres and prove his worth. Don't you think other players could be annoyed by Lukaku's approached that he's done everything to prove he should start for us, while many of them - striker position or not - had to work their arses off with us to be in our first team? I'm not saying it would happen, but it's also a possibility.

4) He isn't that good anyway or that suitable for us. He could be very good one day - but I don't see a high ceiling for him tbh - but even if he excels in what he's already good today I don't think he has the qualities that actually be a top player in a club like Chelsea. It's Ba all over again. When you're in a mid-table team, other teams approach you differently than when you're in a top club, favorite to win every competition and match they enter. Defenses, midfielders play differently against Everton compared to what they do against Chelsea and Lukaku's good qualities (he has them, I'm not denying that) are much more suitable for playing in a team like Everton than at Chelsea. Teams play extra-defensively against us all the time. With his first touch, difficulty to hold the ball and general lack of technique it's much harder for him to score in those situations than against teams playing Everton equally or without an extra defensive effort. He'll receive balls in the run, he'll receive balls in the box or around it with less players around him. He'll flourish in those situations. As it stands today and seeing how he progressed in three seasons - despite the early age - I don't think he has what it takes to make it big here. He could and certainly would outscore Eto'o last season (nine goals), but all this headache for a player that could score, I don't know, 12 goals? That's what I expect from Oscar or Schurrle this year... They should score at least 12 goals if they're in form. For a striker is still not much. It's just we've been so bad in that department lately that suddenly a guy with 16 goals in the league is a wonder here.

5) Finally if he indeed leaves is because of at least one of those two things (could also be a combination of both) A- he wanted and Mourinho thought that it wasn't a great loss. B- Mourinho doesn't rate him (or think he's worth keeping given the bad package I've mentioned above he definitely comes with) whether that's technically or only about his attitude. In either case I guess I'll trust Mourinho's assessment, first because I happen to think the same whether A or B happens, second, Mourinho knows much better than I do (which doesn't mean he doesn't make mistakes).

Letting Lukaku go itself isn't a problem, staying with only Torres and Droga is. One injury and we're left with a strike force as bad (if not worse) than last year's - and we don't know if Costa is prone to them or not, a player could start being prone to them like Aguero was last season and some occasions before - at any point of his career.Maybe he can't prevent Lukaku from leaving or even think he's worth the effort, but then Mourinho MUST bring another striker. I'd say someone young, inexpensive, that could learn from DD and offer us around the same goals output that Lukaku could or even a bit less. I've been saying for a while now we could use a technical striker - we don't have any in the team - because Lukaku's style is similar to Costa - except the latter is right now much better than the former. If Costa struggle against a certain kind of situation, we still have a problem because the likely of it being the same situation Lukaku struggles is huge. Neither can save us if our midfield is having an uninspired day (at least we'll have DD now for air threat in set-pieces, which is always a way to try to overcome lack of creativity). Get a talented, technical young striker around 22-23 that isn't that big yet (or maybe even doesn't have a very high ceiling), but that could offer us something different. He'll grow and mature here and we'll be more versatile. Either way, just get someone.

We don't need to have a problem with letting Lukaku go - it's not a problem per say in my book - but we can make it a problem if we're only left with those other two replacements for Costa.

1) I think this is a bit silly really. He was 20 he needed to be loaned to get play time so he could improve. There's no real point to playing him 10-15 minutes a game with an occasional start. As for Benteke you're dramatically underselling him. He wins nearly 8 aerial duels a game and is one of the better target men in Europe. I've always lobbied for him to come here because he can play with Hazard and his ability to flick on his top notch. I like him better than Costa. He had a poor year, but I expect him to bounce back.

2) I think he just wants to play and not see a sport start here and there and sub for 10 minutes a game. He's still only 21 so he needs to play. Sitting on the bench doesn't help him any and it really doesn't serve Chelsea well either. If he were to sub for 30 minutes a game and get more than a start every 5-7 games then perhaps that's enough. Stamina is a weakness and it's something he has to improve.

3) I'm not a huge Sturridge guy myself but yes he's shown he's clearly better than Lukaku.

4) I can agree he's not a fit for how Jose wants to use him and he's not a great target man and he struggles is certain aspects of the game; however, he's got the goal scorer's instinct and he's a devastating closing option against tired defenses. I agree that's it difficult to see him turn into a world class Striker because of his deficiencies.

5) I don't have a problem with Mourinho selling him, but I do take issue if the resulting striker core is Costa, Drogba, Torres. That's an unacceptable strike force and makes Chelsea reliant on Costa's health. Drogba is 36 has malaria so I rather doubt he's going to be able to give the full 90 needed. Torres has been an abomination against top teams. Mourinho has to acknowledge that had he had a decent/good strike force last year Chelsea would have won the title. Failing to address the issue this year would be a slap in the face.

I agree with you here. If Lukaku goes then a striker with experience in either La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, PL, or La Ligue 1 needs to come in ... Perhaps steal Jay Rodiguez from the Saints seeing as they are liquidating their assets for a sale of the club. Perhaps Bony, or Klass-Jan Huntelaar

[The Chels 2,502]

Why would we want him to only go to an english team if the switch was permanent ? That doesn't really make a lot of sense.

If we were to put any limitations on a permanent move wouldn't it make more sense to do the opposite ? Have him join a foreign team rather then an english one ?

Sky Sports attribute this idea to Lukaku's "Italian agent" who is apparently Mino Raiola. I don't think he is actually Romelu's agent though:

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

I don't care anymore if Lukaku leaves. But if he is leaving then we must buy a good second choice striker. Drogba and Torres cannot be considered good enough backups. Should have bought Mandzukic. Who else is possible?

[The Chels 2,502]

Letting Lukaku go isn't a problem in itself, staying with only Torres and Droga is. One injury and we're left with a strike force as bad (if not worse) than last year's - and we don't know if Costa is prone to them or not, a player could start being prone to them like Aguero was last season and some occasions before - at any point of his career.Maybe he can't prevent Lukaku from leaving or even think he's worth the effort, but then Mourinho MUST bring another striker, especially because he spent the whole of last season complaining he didn't have strikers.

Absolutely but with Costa there isn't only the risk of injuries but also of not adapting quickly enough (less likely) and suspensions (very likely). I think Mourinho might gamble on the combination of Costa, Torres and Drogba until January at least, and this could well be his downfall.