Romelu Lukaku aims for Chelsea first team spot

Last updated : 05 August 2011 By Daily Mail

Chelsea have been monitoring Lukaku for some time now after his scoring exploits with the Belgian club over the past two years, and the Blues reportedly had an ?18million offer turned down for the player last month.

The 18-year-old, who has also caught the attention of a number of Europe's other top sides, has regularly stated his desire to join Andre Villas-Boas' side despite the fact that he will face stiff competition for a first-team place.

The Portuguese already has a wealth of options up front, including Didier Drogba and ?50m signing Fernando Torres, but Lukaku is confident that a move to London will be worthwhile.

West London bound: Romelu Lukaku is confident of earning his place in the Chelsea first team

When asked if he is ready to play for a club the calibre of Chelsea, the teenager told Het Laatse Nieuws: 'Absolutely. If I'm surrounded by players stronger even than those of Anderlecht, I have the ability to adapt quickly and raise my level.

'(Daniel) Sturridge, (Salomon) Kalou and (Nicolas) Anelka play on the flank and they have two central strikers, Drogba and Torres.

'(Even) When a club has three strikers for a position, they will always play games, because those clubs can play 70 matches a year.

'There may be players sold, so they need me. I will wait.'

Real Madrid have also been strongly linked with the Belgium international, who scored 16 times for Anderlecht last season.

In the goals: Lukaku's scoring record for Anderlecht has caught the eye of many admirers around Europe

Reports in Belgium claim that Anderlecht president Herman Van Holsbeeck travelled to London today to discuss a deal with the Blues, and Lukaku wants his future resolved as soon as possible.

'Anderlecht and my agent are aware that this uncertainty is not good for the club or for me,' the youngster added.

'They will fix things at some time in the future.'

Villas-Boas could be set to sell his first big-name player since arriving at Stamford Bridge, with Russian reports suggesting that Yury Zhirkov is on the brink of completing a move to free-spending Russian league side Anzhi Makhachkala.

Zhirkov moved to Chelsea for a reported ?18m from CSKA Moscow in 2008 but has not been able to secure a regular starting place.

Left-back Ashley Cole, meanwhile, has vowed not to follow the increasing number of footballers joining microblogging site Twitter.

The England full-back has been the subject of several controversial stories about his private life throughout his career and he is not prepared to create further headlines by airing his views via the website.

'Never. It's certain people's preferences but I prefer to keep myself to myself,' Cole told Football Focus.

Keeping it private: Ashley Cole has vowed never to join a social networking site such as Twitter

Villas-Boas has underlined his desire since taking over to succeed where his predecessors failed and bring the Champions League trophy to Stamford Bridge.

Cole is no different, admitting he is desperate to help bring the biggest prize in club football to Chelsea.

'It's something that when a player hasn't won it, they want to win it,' Cole said.

'And a lot of the players in this Chelsea team have not won it so the hunger is still there.

'You look back on your career and see what other medals and big trophies you've won. A lot of the players have won the Premier League three times, so if they did finish their careers without winning the Champions League it would kill them.'

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Source: Daily Mail

Source: Daily Mail