Chelsea to offer Everton £65m ultimatum over Romelu Lukaku move

CHELSEA are poised to raise their bid for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku to an astonishing take it or leave it British record £65m.

By George Scott in Minneapolis       

INCOMING: Will Lukaku join Chelsea?

And Lukaku is so keen to rejoin the Blues he is set to hand in a transfer request to try to force it through.

Everton rejected Chelsea’s opening £57m offer for the Belgian international striker at the weekend but Chelsea are determined to land their man.

New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has told the club to go out and get their man to reinforce his strike force for the new season.

Chelsea are also considering offering France striker Loic Remy as part of the deal which suggests Diego Costa will almost certainly stay at Stamford Bridge this season despite strong rumours of a return to Atletico Madrid.

Everton initially demanded £75m for Lukaku, 22, who they signed from Chelsea in 2014 for £28m but the Londoners are still owed the full price from that deal.

The big striker has made no secret of the fact the wants to return to Stamford Bridge, and his record of 45 goals in two seasons since his move has made him one of the hottest properties on the market.

Chelsea have already signed Lukaku’s Belgium teammate Michy Batshuayi but Conte wants three front like strikers for this coming season.

His side face AC Milan tonight in the International Champions Cup at the US Bank stadium in Minneapolis in the opening game at the new $1 billion stadium.

And Conte is set to give Costa his first game of the tour after the Spaniard recovered from a back problem.

Conte, whose side lost 3-2 from 3-0 down to Real Madrid on Saturday in Michigan, could also give Eden Hazard his first start.

The Italian said: “Diego is working with the other players and can play.

“I will decide if I put him in the starting XI or to keep him on the bench.

“It is important to see improvement. Between the first game against Liverpool and the second against Real Madrid I saw different things, different improvement.

“Against Liverpool our defensive phase was very good because the team was very compact but with the ball, when we were in possession, it was only so-so.

 

“Against Real we improved a lot with the ball, with possession. But without the ball in the defensive situation, we were bad - compared to the game against Liverpool.

“It was also because of a bit of tiredness in the players. This tour has been beautiful but has also been very intense.

“I want to work, not just enjoy and wait to play the games.

“In this period it is very important to work hard, to improve different aspects, tactical and physical, and look at the video analysis.

“A friendly game is important but is not the be all and end all.”