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Didier Drogba's Chelsea return accelerates Everton's £18m bid for Romelu Lukaku
EVERTON'S hopes of signing Chelsea wantaway Romelu Lukaku have been boosted with the news that Didier Drogba has returned to Stamford Bridge.
Jose Mourinho's capture of the Cote d’Ivoire international represents a significant shun for Lukaku - who had reportedly been asked to remain in West London to fight for a first-team place.
It's presumed the news will seal the 21-year-old's Chelsea fate with Everton readying an £18m bid.
Everton will need to break their transfer record to sign Lukaku, and certainly will if reports of an £18m bid come to fruition.
The Toffees' previous transfer record was set during David Moyes' tenure, with the £15m purchase of Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini - a record that stands to this day.
Roberto Martinez's odds of singing the Chelsea outcast are now 1/5 - a significant reduction from the 1/2 odds offered just ten days ago.
Speculation over the 21-year-old's Chelsea future has been one of the summers longest running transfer sagas.
Frequent links to Everton, Atletico Madrid, Tottenham and Juventus have all failed to yield any results.
But his relegation to fourth-choice centre-forward behind Diego Costa, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres is hardly an indication that Mourinho values him.