Emirates Stadium side chase Stamford Bridge youngster.
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Arsenal are readying a big money bid for Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger hopeful that their London rivals will be open to selling to a direct Premier League rival.
CaughtOffside understands that Wenger is keen to bring in attacking additions to boost his options in the final third and is known to be a long term admirer of young Belgian Lukaku.
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With a deal to bring in Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez said to be close to completion the Emirates Stadium side are ready to make another big money signing and believe that Chelsea will accept the highest offer for Lukaku regardless of whether that offers comes from another Premier League side.
Blue boss Jose Mourinho had no qualms about selling Juan Mata to Man United and has adopted a policy of selling players he deems surplus to requirements so as to help fund moves to bring in new additions.
Chelsea have cashed in on Mata, David Luiz and Kevin de Bruyne in the past two transfer windows and Mourinho’s attitude towards Lukaku would suggest the 21 year old marksman could be the next to depart Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku has spent the last two seasons out on loan and his efforts at West Brom and Everton have more than proven he is capable of providing a prolific goal-scoring outlet though Mourinho’s decision to sign Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa pretty much confirms his disinterest in offering the powerful forward the chance to prove himself at Chelsea.
A 17 goal haul at West Brom, from just 20 top tier starts, was followed by a 15 goal return at Everton and now Wenger wants to offer Lukaku the chance to make his mark in north London.
Lukaku netted twice against Arsenal last season and this may well have further fueled Wenger’s interest in acquiring his services, having tracked the player since his emergence at Anderlecht.
Chelsea signed Lukaku in an £18m deal back in August 2011 but amazingly have not handed the player a single Premier League start and the signs are that the player is ready to bring an end to his time at the club.
The likes of Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma are all said to be keen on Lukaku but Wenger feels confident he can convince the Chelsea man to move to Arsenal.
Should Wenger bring in either, or indeed both, Sanchez and Lukaku then he will look to offload German Lukas Podolski and is already looking to loan out French youngster Yaya Sanogo in a bid to hand the forward some much needed Premier League experience.
Arsene Wenger will be handed as much as £100m to invest in his Arsenal squad with the club’s owners ready to back the manager as he looks to build on last season’s FA Cup triumph, which of course brought an end to a lengthy silverware drought.
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