At this point, you probably know. But if you don’t -- if you’re new around these parts -- allow me to let you in on a little secret: If we put “Report:" in front of a headline, that means we could be more confident in the source. So when, earlier today, we broke out the prefix for Sky Sports’ report that Romelu Lukaku is going back to West Brom, that was a huge, festering hint this follow-up post may be necessary.
According to the latest reports, Lukaku will move to Everton, where the Deadline Day’s original reports had him going. The Toffees will pick up the 20-year-old Belgian on a year-long loan, the second consecutive year the big number nine’s been lent out within the Premier League.
Last season, Lukaku bagged 17 goals for West Brom, and while Steve Clarke tried to swoop late to bring him back to The Hawthorns this season, Roberto Martínez eventually napped him.
He will be quite an addition for an Everton team currently suffering through a 205-minute scoreless drought. Despite maintaining over 60 percent possession in each of their three Premier League matches, the Toffees have only scored twice. With Lukaku in, possibly replacing Nikica Jelavic up top, Everton may have the number nine they lack.
We went over Chelsea and Lukaku’s sides of this deal earlier. It’s a bit beguiling why José Mourinho’s willing to let one of his number nines go, but at the same time, a move makes sense for the young striker, if playing time is his priority.
If it is, Lukaku stands a better chance of seeing it at Goodison Park than Stamford Bridge.