Rumour: Chelsea put £32m price tag on Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku may be part of Jose Mourinho’s plans at Chelsea next season, after the club have turned down a loan offer and put a £32 million price tag on the striker, according to the Metro.

The striker had been expected to be surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge next season. Lukaku has spent the last two years on loan at West Brom and Everton, and despite his excellent form, Chelsea are expected to complete the signing of Diego Costa imminently.

Costa’s arrival would reduce the 21-year-old’s chances of breaking into the Chelsea team even further. Lukaku himself has expressed his desire to move on from Chelsea in search of regular football, but Chelsea have now turned down a loan offer from Serie A champions Juventus.

Unless a club is prepared to match Chelsea’s asking price, it appears that he will be staying at Chelsea next year.

Lukaku is part of the Belgium squad in Brazil for the World Cup, and he will be expected to play a key role, especially in the injury-enforced absence of Christian Benteke.

Lukaku scored 15 Premier League goals last year, more than Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba.