Toffees close in on exciting double deal.
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Everton are close to sealing a superb double signing from Chelsea with the arrival of Romelu Lukaku for £18m and Christian Atsu on a season-long loan deal…
Lukaku spent last season on loan at Goodison Park and has been keen to make his move to the club permanent, and it is believed that he is now all but an Everton player after agreeing terms with the club, subject to a medical.
The likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur have also shown an interest in the Belgian youngster, who has impressed in previous spells with Everton and West Bromwich Albion, though he has been unable to convince Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho that he is deserving of a place in the side.
The Blues have instead moved to sign Diego Costa and Didier Drogba this summer, which appears to have persuaded Lukaku to push for a permanent exit from Stamford Bridge, with Everton his preferred destination despite offers from ‘bigger’ clubs.
The talented 21-year-old will make a great addition for Roberto Martinez’s side, and could prove a major signing if he can help fire the club into the Premier League’s top four.
Atsu also looks an exciting addition on loan for the 2014/15 season, and is another talented young player who has failed to break into the Chelsea first-team since joining the club from Porto last summer.
After being immediately loaned out to Eredivisie side Vitesse last term, the Ghanian winger is set for another spell away from the Blues, with Everton continuing to exploit the loan market expertly, with Lukaku doing the business alongside another loan star Gareth Barry last season.
Martinez will be hoping that Atsu can have a similar impact for his side, and the 22-year-old has opted for a move to Merseyside over numerous other offers, including from Premier League rivals West Ham United and Aston Villa.
Atsu’s move to Everton could be another loan deal that leads to a permanent transfer, with Chelsea often adopting this approach to the transfer market in recent years, and plenty of high-class competition for places currently on the books in the attacking midfield department at Stamford Bridge.