Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Romelu Lukaku and Juan Cuadrado Rumours

Chelsea are said to be "confident" of bringing former striker Romelu Lukaku back to the club in a deal that could be worth up to £65 million.

That’s according to Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard, who reported that the Belgium international wants to make a return to Stamford Bridge, where he feels as if he has "unfinished business." Everton bought the striker from the Blues for £28 million in 2014, and, as Johnson noted, he has also been linked to Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.

Lukaku has enjoyed the best season of his career at Goodison Park, netting 18 Premier League goals in a struggling outfit. He seems keen to move on, though.

"In my head, I have already made a decision," he said recently, per Johnson. "It’s true that the English competition suits me perfectly, but there are plenty of other beautiful clubs."

As BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty noted, while the player may well want to make the step to a more illustrious club, ultimately it’s not his decision:

Still, Everton would find it tough to say no to an offer of such massive proportions. Chelsea need another goalscorer in the team, and given that Lukaku is just 23 years old, the potential is there for longevity at the point of attack.

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He’d transform their attacking forays. Lukaku’s physicality means that teams can play direct into him, but he is also extremely quick for a man of his somatotype, able to run the channels and dribble past defenders. The Belgian's goal for Everton in the FA Cup against Chelsea earlier in the season captured all the best aspects of his game:

There are areas in which he can improve, with strong hold-up play and an appetite for physical battles still lacking. Additionally, as Sky Sports’ Matt Cheetham noted recently, Lukaku seems to toil late in the season:

Some of these issues will iron themselves out as the striker matures; others will remain for the duration of his career. But crucially for Chelsea, Lukaku is young, a potential force of nature and a proven Premier League goalscorer. It’s easy to see why they would want a reunion.

Juventus Keen to Keep Juan Cuadrado

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Juventus will reportedly offer Chelsea Simone Zaza or Kwadwo Asamoah in an attempt to keep Juan Cuadrado at the football club beyond his current loan spell.

That’s according to Nicola Balice and Edo Dalmonte of Calciomercato.com, who have reported that while Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is a big fan of the Colombian, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri wants him to stay with the Italian champions. That will reportedly prompt Juve to offer a "bargaining chip" in the form of Zaza or Asamoah.

Although he failed to fire at Stamford Bridge, Cuadrado has been a huge hit with the Bianconeri this season. These are some of his best moments in the iconic black and white jersey:

In a division that sees technical and intricate players thrive, the on-loan Blues man offers a refreshing edge. Cuadrado has been a menace on the right flank for Juventus and blossomed into one of the most important players in the setup. ESPN FC’s David Amoyal thinks the former Fiorentina man would be tough to replace:

After former Blues boss Jose Mourinho brought him in and then ushered him out quickly, a new presence at the Bridge could draw the best from Cuadrado on English soil. Conte will know the player well from his time in Italy, and he’d be a major asset for Chelsea if used in the right kind of setup.

Cuadrado seems a lot more settled in Italy, though. The pace of the game is a little slower, meaning he has time to make decisions in possession that he might not get in English football. After playing for three different clubs over the past season-and-a-half, some continuity would surely allow the Colombian to show his best form on a more consistent basis too.