Chelsea Step-Up Bid To Sign 25-Goal Hitman After Conte Cools Interest In Morata

Managers are now making plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Chelsea are ready to step-up their interest in Romelu Lukaku…

Chelsea are ready to press ahead with their pursuit of Romelu Lukaku after cooling their interest in signing Real Madrid hitman Alvaro Morata, according to the Evening Standard.

Diego Costa is being strongly tipped to swap Stamford Bridge for China this summer and the Spanish international’s exit would leave a huge void needing to be filled up front.

The Blues have been linked with a number of top class strikers in recent months but Lukaku and Morata are the two that have been touted by the newspapers as being highest on Antonio Conte’s list.

The Evening Standard claims that Chelsea have watched Morata extensively this season and have been impressed by the fact he’s scored 20 goals for Real Madrid despite not being a first team regular.

However, the paper says Conte has now cooled his interest in the Madrid striker and is ready to step-up his pursuit of Lukaku over the coming weeks after making the Belgian international his prime target.

Lukaku has just come of the back of an excellent campaign that saw him score 25 Premier League goals for the Toffees but his future at Goodison Park is in serious doubt after rejecting the chance to sign a new deal.

The Evening Standard suggest the 24-year-old is keen to return to Chelsea as he feels he has unfinished business in west London and the Blues are confident they will be able to get a deal agreed for a lot less than the £100m Everton are asking for.

Lukaku initially joined Chelsea from Anderlecht in 2011 but struggled to establish himself and spent time out on loan before eventually joining Everton in a £28m back in 2014.

There is no doubt he’s developed hugely during his three year on Merseyside so he would be a completely different striker if he was to re-join Chelsea this summer.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop over the coming weeks but I think we’ll see Chelsea agree a deal in the end and Lukaku will be an excellent signing for the newly-crowned champions.