The Toffees are looking to land Lukaku.
After re-signing club legend Didier Drogba on Friday, the sale of Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku to Everton appears to have moved a step closer, according to the Daily Express.
The future of Lukaku at Stamford Bridge has been plunged into doubt following the return of Drogba, as the 21-year-old’s opportunities for game time have been further limited.
The Belgium international was already having to compete with new £32m signing Diego Costa and Fernando Torres for a place in the starting XI, a problem that has now been exacerbated by the arrival of the 36-year-old.
This has alerted the Toffees once more, who have been keen on signing Lukaku on a permanent deal all summer after the striker impressed on-loan at Goodison Park in 2013/14.
The Belgian netted 15 Premier League goals during his time on Merseyside and Roberto Martinez is prepared to break the club’s transfer record to land the forward.
This was previously set by the £15m purchase of Marouane Fellaini in 2008, but in order to sign Lukaku it would set them back around £18m.
Martinez will face competition though, as Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur have all shown interest in signing the attacker themselves.
Jose Mourinho fell out with Lukaku last summer upon his return to West London and the youngster was loaned out suddenly on transfer deadline day.
It’s unknown whether this issue has been resolved, but having signed Drogba it is a sign that the manager doesn’t really rate his starlet’s contribution.
READ MORE: Chelsea transfer gossip.
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