Chelsea have allowed young striker Romelu Lukaku to join Everton on a season-long loan on the transfer deadline day, after the Blues signed Samuel Eto’o from Russian club Anzhi and were further willing to let Ba move elsewhere on loan.
Arsenal were thought to be interested in signing the Senegal international, however, with Chelsea demanding £3 million loan fee for the striker, the deal didn’t materialize and in the end the London giants decided to send Lukaku on loan to the Merseyside club.
Well, the prodigiously gifted Belgian is only 20 and time is with him to develop himself as a strong player. From that sense, ideally, a loan move is not a bad decision.
But, this season started with a promise of something different for him. After enjoying a spectacular loan spell with West Bromwich Albion last season, where he scored 17 league goals, Lukaku developed as a fine striker under the tutelage of Steve Clarke, and further impressing everyone in the pre-season too; it seemed like this was going to be a breakthrough season for him.
Even he had got the backing of his manager when Mourinho revealed that the kid was an integral part of his plans. It seemed strange and odd that despite such high praises and some sort of promise that he will be given regular first team opportunities, the youngster wasn’t allowed to grow within the club, at the expense of a veteran striker, no matter how good he is or was.
And secondly, why Everton? It was understood that West Brom were also interested in re-signing him. Why not send him there? Under the watchful guidance of Clarke, a man who was once the right hand of Mourinho and helped the youngster to mature beyond his age, Lukaku would have easily adapted to the known surroundings, which could have eased and continued his progress lot better.
At West Brom, he would have commanded regular or frequent starting line-up berth, but at Everton, he is already by default the third choice striker behind Nikica Jelavic and Arouna Kone. He has to do it all again and under a new set of system and coaching methods, who knows he might not even impress Roberto Martinez as well. The decision doesn’t seem a smart one and can backfire completely.
Have Chelsea made the right decision by allowing Lukaku to join Everton on a season long loan? Have your say below…
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