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Chelsea target confirms he nearly joined a Premier League rival in the summer
EVERTON striker Romelu Lukaku has hinted he nearly joined Chelsea in the summer.
Romelu Lukaku - 5 things you need to know
Lukaku left Chelsea to join Everton under previous boss Jose Mourinho in 2014.
Mourinho deemed him surplus to requirements and sanctioned a £28million departure following the acquisitions of Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Didier Drogba.
However, current Blues boss Antonio Conte was desperate to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge over the summer.
Express Sport understands that Conte was ready to spend as much as £70million to sign the Belgium international.
Romelu Lukaku has hinted at interest from Chelsea in the summer
Romelu Lukaku left Chelsea in 2014
But Lukaku eventually opted to remain at Goodison Park and has scored seven goals so far this season.
And the 23-year-old has now admitted that he very nearly left Everton for a Premier League rival - though refused to confirm whether the club in question was Chelsea.
“I’m not going to lie. There was a specific club in England who was really keen to buy me,” he told Sport/Voetbalmagazine.
“But Everton’s new staff made me understand they didn’t want me to leave. What can you do when that happens?”
Antonio Conte missed out on Romelu Lukaku in the summer
As well as Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal were also linked with him.
United eventually opted for Zlatan Ibrahimovic while Arsenal gambled on unknown quantity Lucas Perez.
Chelsea boss Conte looks set to add to his squad when the transfer window reopens next month but, with Diego Costa in the form of his life, a striker is not high on the agenda.
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