The inclusion of Wayne Rooney in Chelsea doesn’t seem to bother Blues’ promising youngster Romelu Lukaku. The 20-year old Belgian International has said that he would welcome Rooney candidly at Stamford Bridge.
According to Lukaku, Rooney and his association can be voracious in the striking line-up. After having an eye-catching performance for the West Bromwich, where Lukaku was loaned for the entire season, the striker feels optimistic about the new campaign and can’t wait any longer to display his skills for the Blues.
Quoted by the Telegraph, Lukaku said:
“If Rooney is part of our team I will welcome him with open arms,” said Lukaku. You know when you are playing for a team like Chelsea there is going to be competition. I like competition.”
Asked if he and Rooney could make a good partnership, Lukaku said: “Obviously, but it is the manager’s choice. You have to accept that you have to work hard to make it a successful squad.”
“I feel I am making an impact, I can score more goals, I can get more assists. I can do more for the team. I can score with both feet and with my head, I am very quick and skilful. I can do a bit of everything but I can improve on things as well.”
It is believed that Chelsea are ready to launch a second bid to in a hope to land the England International and are prepared to pay as high as £30million. The Blues who are in dire need of a new striker has had an initial approach of a £23 million turned down my Moyes last week.
Rooney is currently at the club’s Carrington training ground after returning early from their pre-season tour with an hamstring injury.
In other news, Mourinho’s Spanish prospects has given the manager a food for thought as they are likely to go out on International duty. Juan Mata, Fernando Torres and Cesar Azpilicueta who had a long summer as they were in Brazil representing Spain at the Confederations cup are likely to be called up again by Del Bosque for Spain’s international friendly against Ecuador on August 14th.
Mourinho told The Guardian: “My lineup will depend a lot on which players go away with their national teams two days before the opening of the Premier League. If one has to go to Ecuador and comes back and arrives in London on Saturday without having slept after a 15-hour flight, coming in to train on Saturday morning, I don’t think he is going to play on Sunday.
“If a player plays for England on Wednesday against Scotland, let’s say plays for 45 minutes at Wembley and then an hour after the game he is at home in Cobham sleeping, he is in a better condition to play. The team will be decided game after game and week after week.
“What happens before the Hull City game has an impact. Also, if we have to play against Aston Villa two or three days later, we still don’t know when that will be. I will have to think about two or three matches at the same time. If the game is postponed until two months later and I have only one match in a week, I will think differently. It depends on the situation.”
Chelsea begin their campaign at home on August 18th as they host newly promoted Hull city and playing in an useless International friendly just four days prior to kick-off will mean that Mourinho will miss out on the trio.