Romelu Lukaku’s short lived tenure at Chelsea appears as if it will come to an end this summer, with the striker’s agent already having held talks with Tottenham.
Lukaku’s agent, Christophe Henrotay, told Belgium newspaper Het Nieuwsblad: “I’m looking for a club for Romelu. And yes, I’ve talked to [Tottenham chairman] Daniel Levy once, but that doesn’t mean Romelu will definitely join Spurs. That’s not a talking point at this moment.
“There aren’t 20 teams that can afford to buy Romelu. He won’t go from Everton to, let’s say, Swansea. There’s also a difference between Everton that plays against relegation and an Everton that fights for European football.”
Henrotay’s soundbite adds strength to conjecture around Stamford Bridge that the on-loan Everton striker has fallen out of favor with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
Things between the two began to unravel in November 2013 when Lukaku noted that he hadn’t spoke to Mourinho since the season began and that he’d be open to continue his time at Everton.
Those comments didn’t sit well with Mourinho, who responded by saying that he wasn’t aware on-loan players could decide their own future. Lukaku thereafter sought to repair the relationship by explaining: “Am I getting ready for Chelsea next season? Yes, why else would I have signed a contract for five years?”
Despite Lukaku’s extension of the olive branch, Mourinho appears to have moved on after bemoaning his striker options following yesterday’s 3-1 loss to PSG in the Champions League. From all accounts, Mourinho is expected to shell-out top dollar for a world-class striker this summer, with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa the most likely candidate.
For Lukaku, he now looks prime to head to another Premier League club, with Tottenham joining Everton in pursuit of the Belgian international. Tottenham currently boasts strikers Emmanuel Adebayor, Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado, the latter of whom has failed to impress following his $41 million (£25m) transfer from Valencia last summer. Everton’s striker ranks include the on-loan Lukaku, Arouna Kone, who has missed the entire 2013/14 season after knee surgery, winger-come-forward Kevin Mirallas and super-sub Steven Naismith.
The 20-year-old Lukaku has 12 goals and six assists for the Toffees in 26 Premier League appearances. The Guardian currently values the Belgian at around $33 million (£20m).