Chelsea Transfer News: Romelu Lukaku Pursuit Angers Everton, Latest Rumours

Everton have been left “infuriated” by Chelsea’s pursuit of forward Romelu Lukaku, and the Toffees are set to rebuff any offer from the Stamford Bridge club for their star striker.

That’s according to Dominic King of the Daily Mail, who stated that despite reports of an offer of £65 million plus Loic Remy for the 23-year-old, “Everton say they have yet to receive any kind of contact—nor do they intend to encourage it.”

King added that Toffees manager Ronald Koeman is “unhappy with attempts to unsettle” the player and that the club is willing to dig its heels in when it comes to Lukaku’s future. As noted in the piece, Everton adopted a similar stance last summer, when Chelsea made four bids for defender John Stones.

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Indeed, it’s also noted that while Lukaku is keen on a move back to his former club, Everton have opened talks with the player about a contract extension. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher thinks he should stay with the Toffees:

The reported fee Chelsea would pay for the striker has raised a lot of eyebrows.

Granted, Lukaku has proved himself to be a player who can score goals in the Premier League, and at 23, he still has a lot of improving to do. There are inherent flaws in his game that even a manager such as Chelsea boss Antonio Conte would find difficult to improve, though, most notably his touch and willingness to challenge opposition defenders.

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Even so, for a manager who likes to play with two centre-forwards, Lukaku could be a huge threat. But Rhodri Cannon of MailOnline is unsure whether the Blues would pay the money to secure him:

Lukaku may be disappointed if that is the case, as he’d have a much better chance of challenging for major honours at Stamford Bridge than at Goodison Park. However, Everton have shown a precedent for being stubborn negotiators, and even with a potential £65 million coming in from his sale, replacing a goalscorer of the Belgian’s calibre at this point would be tough.

Chelsea to Up Kalidou Koulibaly Offer

According to Simon Mullock of the Daily Mirror, Chelsea are ready to offer £40 million to Napoli to try and secure the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly.

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While it’s noted Everton are also keen on the centre-back, it’s suggested the Blues will look to “tempt” Napoli with a new offer for the player, who is said to be intent on leaving the Serie A side.

Koulibaly grew into one of the standout defenders in the division during 2015-16, as he provided a pillar of strength at the back for an impressive Partenopei outfit. Here is a look at some of his best moments from last season:

Having helped forge a superb defensive structure at Juventus, Conte knows what’s required to add solid foundations to a team. So while some Chelsea supporters may be concerned about the size of the fee for a player not too well-known beyond Serie A, their manager has a tremendous track record when it comes to defenders.

Even so, Sergi Dominguez of Barcelona fan site Grup 14 thinks the Blues could get better value if they turned their attentions elsewhere:

Koulibaly looks suited to the English game, though. The Senegal international is a behemoth at the back, winning headers, easing attackers off the ball with his strength and showing aggression in his interceptions. Additionally, he has composure on the ball that few of his Premier League peers can boast.

Conte will know the centre of defence is an area that needs addressing at Stamford Bridge. Koulibaly ticks all the boxes for a marquee capture at the base of the side.