Just now, Zola said:

He still tries and fights, that much we can at least see

I would try and fight for free to play in a Chelsea shirt let alone the stupid money he earns.

10 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

You know this may well turn out like the whole torres-carroll deals. 

We probably ideally want to keep Costa. I believe conte rates him and would not talk as highly of him otherwise. However as we have seen money talks and it seems more than coincidence that Diego's form dropped like a stone once we turned down the China interest. 

So with that said we do not want to lose Diego and have to pay extra to replace him. So it would not surprise me if Diego's final price does not end up being a little higher than the price of whoever we sign. Just as Liverpool demanded 50mill to cover the 35mill on Carroll leaving money over for them I can see us paying 70mill for a replacement we are likely already negotiating for and getting around 80mill for Diego. If our buying price goes up so likely does the cost of Costa. 

End of the day I am not concerned because we are going to go through a transitional few years imo and I hope we give conte that time to build while we likely are going to become weaker. We have young talents that we really need to bed in to our squad and team. Many key players are getting older and with jt gone we lose a massive leader. Next season will be a slog as we start to rebuild Costa being here or not makes little difference to it imo. 

Start to rebuild, transitional few years, become weaker, many key players getting older? JT hasn't played this season anyway. City and Arsenal is a rebuilding job, Chelsea have a ready made squad which can only get stronger with a few better players in some positions and more additions to the squad for European football. The amount of options Chelsea have in defence is amazing. 

If Christenson and Ake play a role in the squad. Lets say Chelsea added a few players like Lukaku, Sanchez, a midfielder then I can only see the future being bright.

Edited May 4, 20179 yr by Ernie_blue

1 hour ago, Zeta said:

I'm pretty sure it'll be Lukaku. He's refusing to sign a new deal at Everton, he supports Chelsea, he's PL proven, he's young, we've probably got a buy-bakc clause of some kind. It's a no brainer really.

Hate to admit it but you're right, I don't like lukaku for me he isn't Chelsea material, if we get Sanchez in though I'll swallow it and still be quite optimistic, haz lukaku sanchez could be interesting 

1 hour ago, Zola said:

When the chips are down, is Lukaku the type of guy to pull a team together and fight to the end? I am not convinced, yet.

Drogba didn't look the complete player when he first arrived at Chelsea.

4 minutes ago, Osgood is Good said:

Drogba didn't look the complete player when he first arrived at Chelsea.

I cannot dispute that

2 hours ago, jamie#8 said:

Will be Morata or Lukaku.

Bellotti been reported but he doesnt strike me as a PL player although not seen too much.

Oh Belotti is absolutely made for the PL. His intensity and work rate is tailor made for this league. He's a bit like Vieri as a player.

2 hours ago, Zeta said:

I'm pretty sure it'll be Lukaku. He's refusing to sign a new deal at Everton, he supports Chelsea, he's PL proven, he's young, we've probably got a buy-bakc clause of some kind. It's a no brainer really.

Not a buy back clause but Everton apparently haven't completed the Lukaku payment so that might just make it cheaper for us.

1 hour ago, Osgood is Good said:

Drogba didn't look the complete player when he first arrived at Chelsea.

Drogba also hadn't been playing top flight football for like 8 years. He is an outlier, not an example.

Edited May 4, 20179 yr by Stim

2 hours ago, Zola said:

When the chips are down, is Lukaku the type of guy to pull a team together and fight to the end? I am not convinced, yet.

I totally agree but I still think we'll sign him.

32 minutes ago, Stim said:

Drogba also hadn't been playing top flight football for like 8 years. He is an outlier, not an example.

So Lukaku has been playing top flight football since he was 15 ??? Drogba looked worse than Lukaku when he first arrived at Chelsea, he couldn't control the ball, he couldn't lay off the ball, and looked like bambi on ice. Took Drogba a while to look like a 24 mill striker.

6 minutes ago, Osgood is Good said:

So Lukaku has been playing top flight football since he was 15 ??? Drogba looked worse than Lukaku when he first arrived at Chelsea, he couldn't control the ball, he couldn't lay off the ball, and looked like bambi on ice. Took Drogba a while to look like a 24 mill striker.

Yeah, he has. 45 appearances for anderlecht in 2009/10 when he was 16. 3 years there, 2 at chelsea, 1 at west brom, 4 at everton. He has been playing in the premier league alone longer than Kantes entire career. If he hasn't made a Drogba level improvement by now then he never will.

Drogba started his career late, but always had the raw talent. Not many players will ever have his career trajectory.

8 minutes ago, Stim said:

Yeah, he has. 45 appearances for anderlecht in 2009/10 when he was 16. 3 years there, 2 at chelsea, 1 at west brom, 4 at everton. He has been playing in the premier league alone longer than Kantes entire career. If he hasn't made a Drogba level improvement by now then he never will.

Drogba started his career late, but always had the raw talent. Not many players will ever have his career trajectory.

Massive DD fan. But how many PL golden boots did he have? Lukaku already has one at the age of 23.

Just now, Stim said:

Yeah, he has. 45 appearances for anderlecht in 2009/10 when he was 16. 3 years there, 2 at chelsea, 1 at west brom, 4 at everton. He has been playing in the premier league alone longer than Kantes entire career. If he hasn't made a Drogba level improvement by now then he never will.

Drogba started his career late, but always had the raw talent. Not many players will ever have his career trajectory.

So he was 16 not 15 when he signed professional. He is now 23 which equals 7 years. I think as highly of Drogba as the next man, but he was average in the PL for 2 seasons, scoring only 16 first 2 seasons. Lukaku is still learning, and has not hit prime yet.

Every player reaches their prime at different ages, so to say that he will never reach Drogba level, is right now your opinion, and we all know the saying in regards to an opinion.

12 minutes ago, Osgood is Good said:

So he was 16 not 15 when he signed professional. He is now 23 which equals 7 years.

I pulled the 8 out my ass. 1 year off isn't bad but point to you I guess?

And yeah, its my opinion. In my opinion if Lukaku hasn't had a leap in development as big as Drogbas 2 years, in his 7 years, then it won't ever happen. Which was my original point btw, not that Lukaku won't ever reach it, just that Drogbas development is not a very good yard stick, because his career trajectory is the complete opposite to Lukakus.

My next unpopular opinion, is that Lukaku was as good at west brom as he is now.

22 minutes ago, didierforever said:

Massive DD fan. But how many PL golden boots did he have? Lukaku already has one at the age of 23.

He has 2.

Edited May 4, 20179 yr by Stim

Can simply play the best football in the world, teams like Inter, Milan, or any top club will sign him. 

Sadly that he went for the money. Anyways, thanks for everything he has done here, was a very good striker and an important player in our titles. Wish him the best of luck.

7 hours ago, Barrettinator said:

That photo looks more like Oscar than Costa from behind tbh.

A bit disappointing that we'd take £60m for Oscar but just £76m for Costa. I was expecting at least £85m.

Perhaps the Chinese now realise they paid over the odds and so are being more prudent with the cash.

42 minutes ago, Stim said:

*I pulled the 8 out my ass. 1 year off isn't bad but point to you I guess?

And yeah, its my opinion. In my opinion if Lukaku hasn't had a leap in development as big as Drogbas 2 years, in his 7 years, then it won't ever happen. Which was my point btw, not that Lukaku won't ever reach it, just that Drogbas development is not a very good yard stick, because his career trajectory is the complete opposite to Lukakus.

**My next unpopular opinion, is that Lukaku was as good at west brom as he is now.

He has 2.

*As I thought. **And then the sarcasm.  

Just for the record fella, I am not a great fan of Lukaku, as I have previously mentioned, however I am willing to give the boy a chance in a Chelsea team that has world class players providing the ammunition, something that Everton or West Brom can't boast of, yet he has around 70 goals in just over 140 games for Everton, and 17 in 35 for WBA. Around 1 goal in every 2 games without having world class around him. Not bad for someone who is not very good according to some. 

Edited May 4, 20179 yr by Osgood is Good

It's happening

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/05/04/chinese-clubtianjin-confident-signing-chelsea-striker-diego/

8 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Signed. Helped us win 2 league titles (hopefully). Pissed off every other team. Left and doubled our money on him.

 

Not a bad transfer in the grand scheme of things.

 

Taking the good from the bad. And it's not really bad. If Costa leaves for China, it is the Premier League, and the whole of European football, that should be alarmed.

1 hour ago, Stim said:

My next unpopular opinion, is that Lukaku was as good at west brom as he is now.

Really? You dont think he had improved since he was at West Brom? Im not a huge fan of his style myself, but thats an odd statement to make. When he was there he couldnt trap a bag of sand, had no idea how to time a header, couldnt take three touches without mosing the ball and could finish his supper with his right leg. Sounds like a windup really

One other point in Lukaku's favour is that he has a pretty decent record so far for not getting injured or suspended.

Whoever your main striker is, you want him in the team on the pitch ! Not always something we have been able to say for Didier and Diego !

I think next year, whichever PL team he is playing for, Lukaku (currently on 84) will surpass Drogba (104) for career Premier League goals ... food for thought ...

 

 

1 hour ago, Sexyfootball said:

One other point in Lukaku's favour is that he has a pretty decent record so far for not getting injured or suspended.

Whoever your main striker is, you want him in the team on the pitch ! Not always something we have been able to say for Didier and Diego !

I think next year, whichever PL team he is playing for, Lukaku (currently on 84) will surpass Drogba (104) for career Premier League goals ... food for thought ...

 

Currently Lukaku is averaging 17 goals a season since playing regularly in the prem ( West Brom and Everton). If he carries on at that rate and stays in the prem until he's 30 he'd be over the 200 premier league goals mark behind only Shearer. 

Controversial statement....Lukaku would be an improvement on Costa. 

16 minutes ago, benjsross said:

Controversial statement....Lukaku would be an improvement on Costa. 

agreed.

It's obvious that Costa will be off to China at the end of the season. If this Chinese club are reported to be making Costa the best paid player in China then the fee should reflect that and should be a lot more than the £76m that's being quoted. I would be wanting at least £90m for him. If we are going to go for Lukaku, Everton will be asking for another massive fee probably between £70-£80m. The Chinese league and Man Utd -with the purchase of £86m Pogba, have inflated the market and if a club is going to lose their star player they will be asking for a near record transfer fee.

As regards to Lukaku he wouldn't be my first choice and although I don't like the way he comes across in the media sometimes, he is certainly ambitious and clearly willing to learn and improve.

If we were to lose Costa but buy Lukaku and Sanchez from Arsenal I would be quite pleased.

I'm not so sure about China, I read the club he was recently linked with were looking at buying one of three players (sales talk?). That might be Costa or perhaps someone else. I suspect it will be Costa.

Both Lukaku and Costa often do not get good service.

Interestingly Fabregas is one of those players that can provide those killer balls to the CF yet because of their weaknesses do not play so often.

So if we buy Lukaku will he get the service here?

Or do we need an upgrade in midfield both creatively and also as a general box to box midfielder too?