The Deal That Suits Everyone

The Departure of Romelu Lukaku

So after a prolonged will-it won’t-it transfer saga, Romelu Lukaku is finally a £28 million Everton player. As I had referred to a possible transfer in my previous blog (http://footballhotspotblog.blogspot.in/) on Jose Mourinho’s clever transfer dealings at Chelsea over the last two transfer windows, Lukaku’s sale takes their net transfer outlay over the last two windows to £19.5 million in the green. Not bad for a buying club eh? But what does Lukaku’s departure mean to the three stake holders? Could it be a case win-win-win?

Many are arguing that Chelsea were forced into the Lukaku sale. But there appear to be two versions of the story. Lukaku’s version, “I didn't want to spend 10 years on the bench” (source: London Evening Standard, 31^st July) and Mourinho’s version “he (Lukaku) was not highly motivated to come to a competitive situation at Chelsea” (source ESPN, 31^st July). With the differently abled Fernando Torres, pensioner Didier Drogba and untested maverick Patrick Bamford on the bench, surely Chelsea could have tossed Big Rom some important games. It only leads you to believe that for all his talent, Chelsea didn’t believe Lukaku to be worth more than what he was sold for. But a closer examination reveals that, oddly enough, things are looking good for everyone involved.

From Everton’s point of view, they have a marquee signing who is more likely to raise his fee than the other way around. It’s hard to see them make a loss on their club record signing. By the look of things, Fellaini paid for Lukaku. And that’s good for the Merseyside club because the afro-haired compatriot has not faired too well since. Everton are serious about their ambitions. They got their best players, Barkley and Baines, to stay and the best players on loan at their club last season, Lukaku and Barry, to join them permanently. Either spend paltry sums on players like Vellios, who are good stand-ins but don’t add much value, or make statement signings who will not only add great value to the squad but would sell for a profit later on if required. Smart move by the toffees.

From the Lukaku corner, things couldn’t be clearer. He is still only 21 and has many years to improve. If he is willing to learn and stay humble, which he clearly had problems doing, sky is the limit for the big man. If his loan spells are anything to go by, the lad can play. On the other hand, while Lukaku’s confidence in his own ability is encouraging to see, his morbid fear of competition is sure to raise a few eyebrows. Big fish in a small pond syndrome? While that is very disrespectful to Everton, it smells of that from Lukaku. This season is pivotal for the Belgian. He will either add a couple of million or shed a few pounds. A 20+ goal tally in the league will have suitors lining up and there is no reason why shouldn’t get there, now that he has an environment that he desperately craved.

For Chelsea, it looks like it could turn out to be a Sturridge situation in the long run (who they sold in January, 2013 for £12 million and who has since more than doubled his value) but there is a lot of sense to be made which doesn’t immediately catch the eye. The Sturridge comparisons are justified. Similar age, similar potential, similar position, both had hugely rewarding loan spells and Chelsea made a profit on both of them. But they are players of two very different profiles. From a tactical and financial point of view, the Sturridge sale was an A-grade disaster. Chelsea’s trio of attacking midfielders force the opposition to recede which means you need a striker who can work in tight spaces. Sturridge is that man. Lukaku however, is not. Not yet, anyway. He didn’t fit their immediate need. So what did they do? Moved him on and bough Diego Costa for a slightly larger amount. In effect, Lukaku paid for Costa who is the man they needed. So they will give the Belgian a ‘Thank You’ letter on his way out.

However it doesn’t end there for Chelsea despite Mourinho’s desperate attempts to underplay any further activity in the transfer window. “We finished the market today," said Mourinho. "The transfer market closes (on) 31 August and we close on July 19” (source: BBC, July 19^th). With a profit of almost £20 in his pocket and a possibility of offloading more players, only a naïve person would take Mourinho for his word.

Chelsea fans and the football world at large could be in for a surprise. Thanks to players like Lukaku who were, after all, a surplus to requirements.