Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Glenn Hoddle give Romelu Lukaku verdict as Chelsea near transfer


Chelsea are close to completing the £98million signing of Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan.

The Blues are edging closer to re-signing the Belgium international, who left Stamford Bridge seven years ago, as Thomas Tuchel looks to add a focal point to his team.

According to reports on Wednesday evening, before Chelsea’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Villarreal, Lukaku has landed in London where he is set to complete the sensational return to the capital.

The 28-year-old forward is set to become a Blues player in the coming days, it is understood, and plenty is being said about the imminent arrival.

Now, the BT Sport panel, consisting of Eni Aluko, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Glenn Hoddle have issued their verdicts on Lukaku moving back to west London.

Here is a full transcript of what was said:

Aluko said: “I’m so excited about this signing. I actually think it’s the missing piece for Chelsea.

“Chelsea up front, Werner didn’t do enough last season, if Lukaku comes in, he’s one of the best goal scorers in the world. 64 goals in under 100 games, a big part of Inter Milan winning the league last season.

“What I love about Lukaku now is Chelsea are going to get an involved Lukaku.



Romelu Lukaku is close to becoming a Chelsea player for the second time
Romelu Lukaku is close to becoming a Chelsea player for the second time

“A lot of times in the Euros, he goes out wide, he can play with a false nine as well, his assists have gone up as well for Inter Milan, so he’s an involved player, he’s not just a hold-up player.

“He can play in a Tuchel team that’s very fluid up front. I’m so excited about this signing.”

Ferdinand added: “One thing for certain is that he will be the focal point now for this Chelsea attack.

“They have some fantastic talent up there, an array of talent, they have so many weapons now and I think he’ll be the mainstay.

“Everybody else will be moved about around him but he’ll be the person they look to.

“I am really interested to see how Werner and Havertz feed off him, Mount, giving him the ball, Pulisic and Ziyech. It’s going to be mouthwatering. I’d love to watch training.”

Cole then asked Ferdinand: “Rio, when you saw him at Manchester United and then the Euros, what did you see different? What are the improvements he’s made to his game?”

Ferdinand replied: “I always wanted him to bully people just because of his size, but that’s not really his game.

“He’s almost like a fox in the box, a six foot three cruiserweight fox in the box.



COMO, ITALY - AUGUST 06: Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale smile during the FC Internazionale training session at the club's training ground Suning Training Center at Appiano Gentile on August 06, 2021 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot - Inter/Inter via Getty Images)
Romelu Luaku is closing in on a return to Chelsea

“Once the ball gets into those tight areas, he’s become even better now at getting himself that yard, then touch and bang.

“No messing about. People question his touch, you can do that outside the box, he can maybe clean that up a bit, but when the ball goes to him in the box, his touch is as good as most.”

Hoddle concluded: “I think it’s just exactly what Tuchel wants and what the team want.

“I always felt they lacked a little bit of a focal point and that’s what Lukaku will do.

“He’s 28 now, he’s hitting his peak, they’ve got him at his peak, he’s got a fabulous goal-scoring record anyway.

“I think that threat and focal point will help the likes of Werner and Havertz to play off him.

“I just think they were trying to find someone, Abraham hasn’t done that consistently, and now they’ve got the centre-forward they were looking for.

“Yes, there were a few options but now they’ve gone, ‘let’s go and get him’.

“I think he’s going to kick on even better. He’s a more mature player than he was at United where it didn’t quite work out.”





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