Reports: Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku close to sealing Everton switch
Romelu Lukaku seems to be ready to permanently take up the blue of Everton and leave behind the blue of Chelsea, according to reports.
The Belgian international spent last season on loan at Goodirson Park, where he scored 15 goals in 29 starts for the Toffees. His goals proved vital in propelling Everton to a sixth place finish in the Premier League last season in Roberto Martinez’s first season in charge of the club.
Reports say Everton are ready to break their club record transfer fee to bring the 21-year old to Goodirson Park.
The talented forward had been linked to Everton throughout the summer, but the rumours reached its peak today, when Lukaku posted a picture of himself on social networking site, Twitter with the caption 'Time to write a new chapter...'
Time to write a new chapter..... pic.twitter.com/1XNjbYXsl4
— R.Lukaku Bolingoli (@RomeluLukaku9) July 30, 2014
The £25million figure that is being mooted as the fee that Everton will pay Chelsea for Lukaku’s services is nearly double the club-record 15 million pounds the Toffees paid to buy midfielder Marouane Fellaini from Standard Liege in September 2008.
Lukaku seems to be making it a habit of joining clubs for record fees. Chelsea paid €12 million (£10 million), rising to €20 million (£17 million) for his services in 2011, making him the most expensive teenager in the World at the time.
However, the Belgian has never been given a proper chance to shine at Stamford Bridge. Lukaku spent the last two seasons on loan to West Brom and Chelsea, scoring 32 goals in 66 appearances.
The ex-Anderlecht youngster in reported to be flying into Liverpool from Belgium to put pen to paper on a five-year deal, £75,000-a-week deal with the Toffees.