Socrates

Another loan? It's not as if Soton don't have the money. If they want him they should just pay for him. What is the point of a loan at his age?

Spoke too soon.

Nice assist by Costa.

‘Why Romelu Lukaku is being sold by Chelsea and why that's the right decision’... http://thepremierleagueowl.com/why-romelu-lukaku-is-being-sold-by-chelsea/

Not too disappointed as long as it means we're bringing in a top striker to play alongside/rotate with Costa. Let's face it Lukaku is nowhere near good enough to be our second striker. And first choice at Everton is perfect for him. Right decision for both parties.

Everton according to http://www.dhnet.be/

Looks like he's off... http://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/mercato/exclusif-lukaku-va-s-engager-avec-everton-53d8e91c3570667a638f465f

If Lukaku thinks that he won't get any game time ahead of a bumbling Torres and an ageing Drogba then he clearly doesn't have much faith in his own abilities.

Depends what we plan to do with the 24m pounds we're allegedly selling him for.

According to the Press we have to lose one of Mikel, Cech or Torres because of the foreign players rule. I don't think it will be Cech, so the choice is pretty limited!

Why does Torres have to be in the first team squad? If I recall, Malouda was shunted to the reserve team after refusing a move on lower wages. We can get by with Costa, Lukaku and Drogba. Bit surprised that absolutely no-one is interested in Mikel - even at a knockdown price. Blimey!

Yep, watching Torres has become like one of those Celebrity in the Jungle programmes where personalities whose careers are on the skids are paid vast fees to endure public humiliation.

I don't feel sorry for him at all. He's pocketing a huge wage and presumably not willing to take a pay cut to move on. Watching him play is turning into a cruel spectacle. He's become a laughing stock, yet he takes the money every week. If they had any sense his advisers would tell him it's not worth the humiliation. Or maybe it is. I'm surprised he hasn't decided to salvage his dignity and go back to Atletico on reduced wages. In the meantime if he wants to stay he deserves all the flak he gets. It's his choice.

How did Torres do that? Takes some kind of genius to scoop the ball over the bar from there.

Hope this means Torres is off. A forward line of Costa, Lukaku, Drogba and Bamford is an upgrade on last season's woeful effort.

Now it makes sense why we're planting stories about Real Madrid being interested in Lukaku... “Everton continue talks with Chelsea over £20m-rated Romelu Lukaku†http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/25/everton-chelsea-romelu-lukaku-david-henen-besic

Someone's earning their salary in the Chelsea Press Office: ‘Real Madrid plot stunning raid for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku...’ http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/390870/Real-Madrid-plot-stunning-raid-for-Chelsea-striker-Romelu-Lukaku

Or rotate him with Oscar. Let's face it, Oscar was awful after December, and looked shattered for large parts of the season. He clearly can't cope with the rigours of a long season at this stage in his career. Hazard dropped off in performance too after Xmas. Isco would be a great buy. He'll get more than enough games and could hold his own against any of our creative players.

Not sure about the original source but here's the story anyway... “Chelsea have emerged as favourites to sign Real Madrid forward Isco, who is also being chased by Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City. Reports from Madrid suggest the La Liga giants are keen to offload the 22-year-old after the big money arrival of World Cup star James Rodriguez. However, despite interest from the Premier League champions and runners-up, the whispers in Spanish media suggest a move to Chelsea is "close" to being completed, with Jose Mourinho willing to dig deep to replace the goals of Frank Lampard.” http://www.surreymirror.co.uk/Chelsea-close-signing-Liverpool-Manchester-City/story-21820066-detail/story.html?

Well done Boga. Just kept going and a nice finish!

My guess is there is no bidding war for Torres. Just us leaking stuff to the Press hoping to generate interest in him.

No chance the Egyptian army will take him?

Very subtle piece put out by the Chelsea Press Office in an attempt to drum up interest in Torres... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2702058/Fernando-Torres-continues-attract-Europe-Monaco-join-Atletico-Madrid-race-sign-Chelsea-man.html

Everton remain hopeful of landing Lukaku for club record fee... http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/lukaku-everton-fc-transfer-blues-7460419

We have to face the fact that no-one wants Torres. We can't give him away. There is zero interest in him. Zilch. Nothing. Nada. He's ours for two more long, painful, agonising years. Better get used to it.