Chelsea’s all-time top scorer Frank Lampard is backing Chelsea’s pursuit of Romelu Lukaku
Lampard insists his former club need a player with a similar “physical presence” to striker Diego Costa.
Costa has been told by Antonio Conte, via text message, to now find a new club this summer and reports claim Lukaku is Antonio’s first-choice to replace him.
Everton however, have set an whopping £100million asking price for the Belgium star, who has scored 87 goals in four years at Goodison Park, and Frank is skeptical of the “inflated” transfer market.
The Blue Legend feels Costa will be a hard player to replace, however, he welcomes the interest in a striker like Lukaku who has proven himself in England for many years.
“I think he is a fantastic striker, we’ve all seen that since he arrived at Chelsea,” he told Sky Sports of Diego Costa. “He will be very difficult to replace, there’s no doubt about that.
“I don’t know where Diego Costa is, where his mind is, whether he wants to leave or not, that’s all speculation but one thing is for sure is that you’ve got a great striker in him so if he stays, brilliant, if he doesn’t then you’ll have to go to the top end of world strikers to replace him.
“He is an all-round physical presence with the quality to get you goals, that’s not easy to find in the modern game. If Chelsea do lose him, they will have to make sure they get the right signing to keep going forward.”
Lukaku spent three seasons at Stamford Bridge from 2011 to 2014, making only 10 goalless appearances before being shipped off on successful loan spells with West Brom and then onto Everton.
“I know Lukaku from playing with him. It was early on in his career and he probably didn’t get the chances and he’s certainly developed to a huge degree since he’s left the club.
“I think Lukaku would be a great option and the only thing that Chelsea have to look at is the inflated market that is around now which is very tough and they will take that into account.
“In terms of an all-round striker, proven to have scored goals with Everton last year and the last two or three seasons in the Premier League, he would be an option for them.
“But there are others so I wouldn’t want to try to second guess where they are looking around. I’m sure they will look at the player in the same type as Diego Costa.
“They need a physical presence, they got a lot of skilfull players behind and will want to find someone who can replicate what Costa did: a physical presence and also give them 20-plus goals a season.”
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