Romelu Lukaku describes rumours of impending transfer from Everton to Chelsea as 'bulls***'
The striker has told Everton he wants to leave the club this summer
Romelu Lukaku has described rumours of an impending return to Chelsea as “bulls***”.
The Belgium striker, who has two years left on his existing deal, has refused to sign the new contract on offer at Goodison Park which would make him the highest-paid player in the club's history.
And Lukaku has made it clear that the guarantee of Champions League football, and not money, would play a key role in determining his future.
Over the weekend the striker shared a video of himself playing five-a-side football on an astroturf pitch surrounded by Chelsea logos, leading many to speculate a move could be imminent.
However, Lukaku took to Twitter to insist that nothing should be read into the links.
“Smh [shake my head]... hearing all this BS again,” he wrote on his Twitter page.
“It’s just a five-a-side game people! Some of you need to chill.”
Despite his insistence that the game of five-a-side did not mean he would be moving anytime soon, The Independent understands that Lukaku has made up his mind to go to Chelsea, and is set to turn down Manchester United for a return to Stamford Bridge that will cost upward of £80m.
The 24-year-old on Tuesday gave a number of clues to his future while on international duty with Belgium, stating that he “knows what’s happening”, and significant progress has already been made on a move to the new champions.
Where next for Romelu Lukaku?
Show all 6The Independent understands that United made an enquiry at the beginning of the month and, while they were not given a firm “no”, the Old Trafford club were told that a deal with Chelsea is very close.
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