The Everton man is seen as Chelsea’s number one target for the summer, and the champions could bid in the excess of £100m.
Everton could be subjected to a world record offer when it comes to striker Romelu Lukaku, with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte telling the Blues that he wants the Belgium international signed at any cost, as reported by the Telegraph.
The 24-year-old had a scintillating season for the Toffees, scoring 26 goals in 39 games in all competitions, and that form has prompted Ronald Koeman to slap a £100m price tag on his head in an attempt to ward off any potential suitors.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku shoots at goal
However, that has not put off Conte – who steered Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season in charge of the Blues – and wants Lukaku to return to his former club in order to replace Diego Costa, who is out of Conte’s plans, as also included in the Telegraph’s report.
Lukaku failed to score a single goal in 15 appearances for Chelsea when they signed him from Anderlecht in 2011, but since they initially loaned him to Everton in 2013, before that was made permanent the following year, Lukaku has scored 87 goals in 166 games for the Toffees, and is now their all time Premier League top scorer.
The price to bring the 24-year-old back seems certain to be a world record fee – at least while Kylian Mbappe’s future with AS Monaco remains up in the air – and could reimburse Everton for the majority of their transfer deals so far this window.
Koeman has been very busy in the transfer market, signing Jordan Pickford, Davy Klassen, Sandro Ramirez and Henry Onyekuru, while the club are also expected to complete the signing of Michael Keane, as reported by Sky Sports.
New manager Ronald Koeman poses with a Everton jersey after the press conference
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