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Romelu Lukaku Special: Where will the Transfer Saga End? Part 1

Whoever wins the race for Romelu Lukaku’s signature will have picked up an absolute goal scoring machine, no doubt. Lukaku’s achievements to date have made him the most sought after player in Europe, with pretty much all of the big clubs across the continent at one stage or another trying to secure the 17 year old’s services. While his club Anderlecht have said he is their player until at least the end of the season, the stories keep coming out about potential suitors for the striker who was top scorer in the Belgian First Division last season.
Lukaku recently revealed that he would prefer a move to the Premier League, snubbing admirers Real Madrid. “Of course I admire Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid is a great club, but I see England as more likely than Spain”. Mourinho had confirmed Madrid’s interest in Lukaku, and Cristiano Ronaldo had described the Belgium international as “really fantastic” but Lukaku believes that he can improve faster in the Premier League.
Within the Premier League, all of the new founded ‘top 5’ are confident the have a shot at bringing in the youngster, and Lukaku says he would be happy to wearing the kit off any off the clubs in the Premier League’s elite group. Chelsea are his favourite team and also says “there is Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. These five are interesting teams. Tottenham are also a good club. As a young kid you dream of playing in every big team.”
A Belgium magazine this week announced this week that Manchester City had signed Lukaku and that he would arrive at City in the summer in a 18 million .move. The news only lasted 3 hours before it was confirmed premature, but City are very much one of the frontrunners to land the 17 year old. Manager Roberto Mancini has said that no deal will be struck this January, a view shared by all parties involved. However he hasn’t ruled out a move, which in this modern day all but means there is in depth interest.
Mancini said: “Lukaku is a good player and he is young. Maybe something will happen in the future but at this moment, no.”. Manchester City would most likely be Anderlecht’s preferable choice for the Belgium international because City’s mega rich owners are almost certain to place the highest bid. However Lukaku has to want to move to a club for the deal to be completed, so this dosen’t make City outright favourites to land the striker, but are probably on par with Chelsea.
One of the things working against the Manchester blues though is the size of their squad, with Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko plus a host of other forwards (depending on the endless comings and goings at City) all working to find themselves a place on the pitch. Lukaku will have to work hard to get himself onto the pitch, the only place he can be expected to improve.
Chelsea are considered by some to be leading the race for Lukaku, who have alot of things that the player is looking for. “[Chelsea] is my favourite team. I have allways said it and I have never hidden it. But it is not because Chelsea is my favourite team that I have to go there”.
Also working in Chelsea’s favour is the fact that Lukaku’s role model Didier Drogba is at the club. “I spoke to Drogba the day after my 17th birthday. I was with Vincent Kompany and the Belgium national team. He was speaking to Drogba and gave me the telephone. It was a very emotional moment. I asked him a thousand questions; ‘How did you score that goal?’ ‘What did you do in training?’ ‘What is it like to play at Stamford Bridge?’ We spoke for about 20 minutes, half-an-hour. These opportunities don’t come along very often in a lifetime and you have to make the most of these moments.”
Chelsea have said that they are looking for a forward, and Lukaku would perfectly fit the player their looking for. Young, with almost limitless potential, however Chelsea are not known for developing players. The presence of Drogba, who also advised Lukaku to come to Chelsea in the phone call, said he would be willing to mentor the youngster until he took over his first team place.
Look Out for Part Two Tomorrow!!!
Interview on Goal.com

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