Romelu Lukaku is on the short-list to replace Diego Costa if the Chelsea star continues to push for a move this summer. Striker Costa was brought back into the first-team fold on Tuesday, after training alone for several days following a bust-up with boss Antonio Conte.
But Tianjin Quanjian, the Chinese Super League club trying to sign the Spain international, claim the Blues’ owner Roman Abramovich has told them he will only do business at the end of the season.
Tianjin owner Shu Yuhul confirmed he met Costa’s agent, Jorge Mendes — and had also targeted Paris Saint-Germain’s Edison Cavani, Karim Benzema of Real Madrid and Monaco’s Chelsea old-boy Radamel Falcao.
Lukaku left Chelsea in 2014 after making just 10 Premer League appearances in a three-year spell. The Belgian was shipped out on loan to West Brom and Everton during his time at Chelsea before making his move to Goodison Park permanent. But the Blues have been linked with a move to bring the man they bought from Anderlecht in 2011 back to the club.
Lukaku has scored 13 goals in 22 appearances for the Toffees this season and is close to signing a new deal at Goodison Park, and according to his agent Mino Raiola, regardless of a new deal being signed, the striker could still leave Merseyside in the summer.