Antonio Conte Reportedly Instructs Chelsea to Sign Romelu Lukaku at Any Price

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has reportedly told the Blues to secure Romelu Lukaku's signature at all costs this summer, even if they have to pay Everton £100 million.

According to the Telegraph's Matt Law, the Belgian is Conte's "number one target," and the Italian believes the striker "can live up to any price tag."

Conte is a keen admirer of the 24-year-old, having identified him to the club as his first choice to replace Diego Costa, and he believes Lukaku is an ideal fit due to his ability to thrive as a lone frontman or partner another striker.

He racked up 25 Premier League goals for Everton last term, his most prolific campaign in the English top flight yet.

As Squawka Football demonstrated, while Lukaku predominantly uses his left foot, he is more than capable of scoring with his right or his head:

There are still some doubts over him, however. Goal's Nizaar Kinsella does not believe the Toffees can justify a nine-figure valuation:

Goal's Sam Tighe was critical of him at the back end of the season:

Indeed, he scored just once in the final five matches of the campaign as Everton, secure in their seventh-placed finish, drifted through their run-in.

The striker still faces some issues with consistency, and an occasionally poor first touch or pass leading to the breakdown of an attack remains a frustrating sight at Goodison Park, so a £100 million valuation is excessive.

Nevertheless, he has scored 104 goals in English football since arriving as a teenager, and he spent his first season in the Premier League as a bit-part player at Stamford Bridge.

With his proven track record in today's market, Chelsea will have to be prepared to pay an exorbitant fee to bring him back, and Conte appears well aware of that given his instruction to the club.

For that kind of money, the Blues would likely want a player who is already the finished article, but Lukaku evidently has the manager's backing and can still be an excellent signing for Chelsea.