Chelsea set to beat Manchester United in transfer chase for Romelu Lukaku

The Everton striker is wanted as part of Antonio Conte’s Blues overhaul, but the man who decided in 2014 that the player wasn’t for them is in the mix too.

Chelsea signed Lukaku in 2011, sold him in 2014 for £28m and now want the £65m-rated star back

Chelsea are confident of beating Manchester United to Romelu Lukaku.

The Blues’ incoming new boss Antonio Conte wants the £65million-rated Everton striker to spearhead his revolution at Stamford Bridge.

It would be an incredible about-turn for the Londoners, who sold Lukaku to the Toffees for £28m in July 2014 and would now have to pay more than double that figure to get him back.

But they are prepared to fend off competition from the Old Trafford giants, who are interested even though it was their manager-elect Jose Mourinho who opted against keeping Lukaku when he was Chelsea boss.

Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are among the other clubs monitoring developments and, unlike the Blues, can offer Champions League football next season.

But Chelsea believe they can get it done, and re-signing a player they originally bought from Anderlecht in his homeland for £18m in 2011 would be a huge signal of intent for newcomer Conte.

The deposed Premier League champions are insistent they do not want to sell current No2 striker Diego Costa, but they are keen on breaking up the cliques which insiders believe could threaten dressing-room harmony.

Chelsea’s pursuit of Lukaku does not mean they are looking to sell Diego Costa

They would not entertain offers for Brazilian forward Willian, but several clubs fancy Oscar while Alexandre Pato is almost certain to be on his way out after a disastrous loan spell for the second half of this season.

Spain international Costa and midfielder Oscar both had bust-ups last season, while Conte's strict regime on time-keeping and diet could give some of the Blues’ Brazilian contingent a big wake-up call.

(Mirror)