Chelsea are willing to include French forward Loic Remy and break their transfer record in a bid to secure a deal for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, according to reports.
Lukaku, who joined Chelsea in 2011 but made just one league start for the club, moved to Everton in 2014 in a £28 million (Dh137m) deal following a successful loan season at Goodison Park that produced 15 league goals.
Since his permanent move to Everton, Lukaku, 23, has scored 45 goals in all competitions to become one of the most consistent goalscorers in the Premier League.
Two years after his exit, Chelsea are now determined to take the Belgium international back to Stamford Bridge, but will need to shatter their transfer record in order to do so.
More from the Premier League:
• Players to watch: De Bruyne, Ozil, Kante and the 10 players to watch during the 2016/17 season
• Premier League countdown: 10 days to go: Eden Hazard the key for a Chelsea revival under Antonio Conte
• Player of the season prediction: Eden Hazard? Kevin De Bruyne? Who will be the Premier League player of the season?
The Sun are reporting that Everton are holding out for £75m, such is their determination to keep one of their star players.
However, the Daily Mail have claimed Chelsea are prepared to offer £65m plus Remy for Lukaku, and hope the offer will be tempting enough to convince Everton to allow negotiations.
Despite their desire to re-sign Lukaku, Chelsea are reportedly getting impatient and want to open talks with Lukaku by the end of the week in the hope of completing a deal before the start of the season.
Should Chelsea’s offer be accepted, it would surpass their current record deal, when in January 2011, they signed striker Fernando Torres for £50m from Liverpool.
Chelsea have already made reinforcements to their attacking line with the signing of Lukaku’s international teammate Michy Batshuayi from Marseille for a reported £33m.
Lukaku is reportedly eager to return to Chelsea, with various reports suggesting he could hand in a transfer request to force the move.
The London club’s interest in Lukaku is sure to cast further doubt over the future of Brazilian-born Spain striker Diego Costa.
Costa, 27, has been linked with a return to Atletico Madrid following a second season at Chelsea disrupted by injury. New manager Antonio Conte has consistently stated that Costa is a “very important” player for the club, although the continuing interest in Lukaku will only create more speculation regarding the striker’s future.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
