Former Chelsea player Joe Cole says Romelu Lukaku would be a perfect replacement for Diego Costa.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku
Former Chelsea midfielder, Joe Cole, says that Everton striker Romelu Lukaku would be a perfect replacement for Diego Costa.
Lukaku has stated his desire to leave Everton and play for a Champions League club, and has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea and Manchester United.
Cole, who was with Chelsea from 2003 to 2010, says that the Everton striker would be a good signing for the Blues.
Diego Costa is facing an uncertain future at Chelsea, and the Spain international could be sold this summer. Chelsea are looking to replace him with Lukaku, and have reportedly agreed personal terms with the Belgian striker.
Chelsea have been linked with Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, but Cole is not sure whether it would be the right move given the player’s lack of Premier League experience.
“Obviously the Costa thing has come out. Conte has told him that he wants him out so you would be looking at a striker,” Cole said, as quoted by Goal.
“Lukaku, there’s a market for him, and you are competing for players. I like Lukaku. I’d take Lukaku, he is like for like with Costa, but they only need one or two players and just keep the continuity going.
Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku misses a chance to score
“I don’t know his character so it is hard to say [whether the comeback could affect him], but I would say is that the pressure is different when you play for Chelsea, rather than Everton. He is younger [than Costa], that’s in his favour.”
“The financial structure of it and the cost… I wouldn’t look outside of Lukaku, Sanchez and Aguero. [Alvaro] Morata is another one but he has never played in England so there is a little question mark there. Certainly they would be the players to look at.”
Lukaku has enjoyed a phenomenal 2016/17 campaign for the Toffees, where he scored 25 Premier League goals. Only Tottenham’s Harry Kane has scored more than him last season.
Everton are almost resigned to losing him, but the Toffees are making sure that they get the best out of him by slapping a £100 million price tag on him.
Chelsea’s Diego Costa celebrates scoring their first goal
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
