Chelsea Transfer News: Jose Mourinho Blamed in Romelu Lukaku Clause Rumours

Chelsea will have to pay the full asking price if they want to re-sign Romelu Lukaku this summer after former Blues manager Jose Mourinho advised against including a buyback clause when the Belgian striker was sold to Everton for £28 million in 2014. 

According to Matt Law in the Telegraph, Lukaku is set to be a key strike target for Chelsea in their summer rebuild, but they will have to battle against other suitors Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Real Madrid after they failed to include any buyback option two years ago.

Law added that the Toffees' valuation of Lukaku is now £65 million, but during the negotiations that saw him move to Goodison Park, Chelsea had the opportunity to accept "a lower fee for Lukaku from Everton and [include] a buyback clause in the deal so that he could easily be taken back to Stamford Bridge."

Season	Appearances (as a sub)	Minutes	Goals	Assists	Shots per game
2015-16	32	2,786	18	6	3.3
2014-15	32(4)	2,877	10	5	2.9
2013-14 (on loan from Chelsea)	29(2)	2,564	15	6	3.2

Given how Lukaku has advanced in the last couple of seasons, Mourinho's advice now looks as though it could have cost the Blues dearly.

The 22-year-old is one of the top strikers in the Premier League and has netted 18 times in the 2015-16 campaign, earning himself a PFA Young Player of the Year nomination, per WhoScored.com.

Per Law, Lukaku is "open to a return to Chelsea" in the summer, but Everton are not keen on selling him to a club that will not be in the UEFA Champions League next season.

Indeed, the forward recently revealed that he is eager to play in Europe's top-tier competition next term, per Sky Sports' Allan Valente: "That is the next step for me. I'm 23 next summer [in May] and I think it would be nice to play in the Champions League from next season."

BT Sport presenter Jake Humphrey believes appearing in the Champions League is essential for Lukaku:

The Toffees can auction him off, and there are plenty of suitors after Lukaku's stellar season.

Per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones, Antonio Conte will be looking to buy a new striker when he is installed as Chelsea manager in the summer:

Lukaku is an ideal target, as he would add depth to a strike unit that is too reliant on Diego Costa.

Given the fee now required for the former Anderlecht man, Chelsea's lack of Champions League football next season and the range of alternative suitors, the Blues will surely struggle to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge in the summer.