Arsenal Hope To Trump Chelsea After Opening Talks Over Deal For 25-Goal Hitman

The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal join Chelsea in the race for Romelu Lukaku….

Arsenal are hoping to beat Chelsea in the race to sign Romelu Lukaku after opening talks with Everton over a potential deal to sign the 25-goal striker this summer, according to the Daily Star.

New Chelsea boss Antonio Conte isn’t officially due to start life at Stamford Bridge until after Euro 2016 but it looks like the Italian boss has already discussed his transfer plans with his new employers.

The Daily Star claim that Conte has made Everton hitman Lukaku one of his prime targets this summer as he looks to bring in a powerful frontman to support Diego Costa in attack next season.

Conte is being tipped to introduce a new-look formation that will see the Blues play with two main strikers so Lukaku could play alongside Costa but he’d also be capable of playing up front on his own if required.

However, it looks like Chelsea are now going to face stiff competition for Lukaku’s signature as the Daily Star are citing reports coming out of Italy that claim Arsenal have now joined the chase for the Belgian international.

Arsene Wenger is on the look out for another striker after losing Danny Welbeck for nine months through injury and with the Gunners’ pursuit of Jamie Vardy stalling, the newspaper suggests the North Londoners have now opened talks with Everton to discuss a potential deal for Lukaku.

The Toffees are desperate to keep hold of the 23-year-old and are likely to offer him a new deal to tempt him to stay at Goodison Park but it’s going to be difficult for the Belgian hitman to turn his back on the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

Lukaku has just come off the back of his most prolific season to date after scoring 25 goals in all competitions for a struggling Everton side that finished way down in a disappointing eleventh place in the Premier League table, so he’d certainly bring a real threat for either London club if they could get a deal agreed.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Chelsea transfer news

Arsenal are able to offer Champions League football and Lukaku could be the upgrade on Olivier Giroud that fans have been crying out for, but the striker could be tempted by the chance to finally prove himself at Chelsea having failed during his spell at Stamford Bridge during 2011-2014.