Is the End Nigh for a Patient Courtship?

Specifically:

"Lukaku only turned 21 at the end of last season, and yet the only current Premier League player with more PL goals in the last two seasons than the BelgianÂ’s total of 32 is Robin van Persie. That Lukaku achieved such a feat whilst playing for Everton and West Brom, where service (particularly away from home) was occasionally scarce, indicates just how comfortable he is playing as the central striker in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, precisely the approach Mourinho may well utilise at Chelsea next season."

and

"A comparison of the number of league goals scored by the age of 21 sees Lionel Messi with 57, Michael Owen 55 and Wayne Rooney 44 - Lukaku has 65. This may not yet be the complete striker, but at such a tender age nor should he be - what he has demonstrated is that he could be one of the best forwards in the world in three or four yearsÂ’ time."

Mouth watering when you look at it like that .... and perhaps puts any frustrations we have with him in context ...

And if we do and the Injury Gods are kind for a change, weÂ’re rolling.

Personally I think we have to be be firm in our resolve to have at least one other striking option raring to go when the season starts, and if Chelsea are messing us around we have to be prepared to go with our plan B (whatever that may be).

I think weÂ’re actually going to do this, despite the seasoned pessimist in me.

Has to be a deadline though and, for me, it would be a week from now.

Anyway, financial concerns aside, as I say, the possible signing of Lukaku is hugely exciting. However, I have my doubts. The reason being, this time last year an article was published (sorry, no link) which basically indicated that Juan Mata is/was not a Mourinho Â’playerÂ’. I remember thinking at the time, "they will literally write anything, how can a player of the pedigree of Mata not be a Mourinho Â’playerÂ’ when heÂ’d been one of the outstanding Chelsea players in what was - by ChelseaÂ’s recent high standards - a pretty poor team (who won the CL btw)". Well, we all know how that ended.

What has this inside information got to do with the current Lukaku Â’situationÂ’? Well, around January, an article appeared (sorry ,again, no link) which basically outlined a Mourinho Â’tacticÂ’ of bringing Drogba back as a couch/player for the sole purpose of bringing the best out of Lukaku, who he (as in Mourinho) saw as his natural successor (as in Drogba, even though heÂ’d left the previous summer). The idea being, Drogba - who is whom Lukaku basis his own game on btw - would personally Â’train/mentorÂ’ Lukaku in what it takes to be a true Chelsea legend. Lukaku is, btw, a Chelsea fan and has been since a child.

Reading between the lines, it appears there is a pretty friendly Â’hackÂ’ whom is close to (aka Â’in the pocket ofÂ’) Mourinho. So, if what was written last summer was true - which we now know was - then itÂ’s perfectly conceivable that the article written about the Mourinho Â’tacticÂ’ - given recent developments (i.e. the re-signing of Drogba) - of Drogba being more of a mentor than a replacement for Lukaku, is also true. That being the case, Drogba is returning to pass on his knowledge to - rather than take up the minutes on the pitch of - Lukaku? I maybe wrong - and believe me, I hope I am - but I believe MourinhoÂ’s true intentions may have already been disclosed.

There have been so many people saying positive things about signing Lukaku, RM included, that I am almost starting to think that itÂ’s going to happen.

I just hope it doesnÂ’t take to long, one way or another. We NEED a striker! The sooner the better.

"ItÂ’s not the despair, Everton. I can take the despair. ItÂ’s the hope I canÂ’t stand."

What we know so far is that Chelsea havenÂ’t accepted a bid for Lukaku because if they had then it would just be down to Lukaku accepting personal terms. So really everything we are hearing is total speculation unless the announcement of his return is being delayed until a specific date which I doubt somehow.

I just hope we have an alternative option if this falls through.

Also his signing would be a big coup for both the club and rm. It's one thing to get a player like Lukaku on loan, another to sign him permanently.

I was getting a bit concerned before we signed Barry, but things seem to be shaping up with a couple more signings on the horizon. Would be nice to see Deulofeu sign up for another year, but maybe that's too much to ask for.

Anyway hope we sort this out one way or another by next weekend as signing a striker will be key to a good start to the coming season, and it's tough to sign a good one.

For Years IÂ’ve been on the Everton emotional roller coaster and the last fortnight has been no different.

When I average out the ups and downs with Lukaku, I come to this conclusion: unless he gets a mega offer from a top of the range CL outfit, which Â’couldÂ’ happen, though I doubt if Mourinho would let him go in that case, then we must be one of, if not, THE, best option for him

Based on his reaction at the end of the Hull game, throwing his kit behind the goal, it could have been just as easy if he wasnÂ’t bothered, to give a couple of hand claps over his head to the crowd and head off to the showers, he Â’getsÂ’ Us as they say.

Though it must be said, body language-wise, while Delboy was giving it the shrug shoulders, see ya, donÂ’t know if IÂ’ll be back, not up to me. Lukaku seemed to be saying, ItÂ’s been great but IÂ’ve got to go.

We are, IMO, the best fit for him, at just turned 21. His, Ours and RobertoÂ’s future are bound together, sink or swim for the next 4 or 5 year. He, We and Roberto will either improve and prosper, or...or, well we will remain where we are, but He and Roberto will still be young enough to have the chance to move on if it doesnÂ’t come off...which of course could happen; see Everton roller coaster for last 50 odd years.

So, I am he, as you are he, and we are all together...fade into All you need is love...sorted

Nurse, Nurse, I think IÂ’ve forgot me tablets, IÂ’m to optomistic. * goes for lie down*

Sitting on hands and taking a wait and see approach is nonsense. If we have the cash to pay for a decent twenty goal a season striker then just go and do it. If it's Lukaku great, if not, source another player and try to buy him.

OR - will all end up with egg on their faces if ? we don’t actually get him. We don’t normally go full frontal on transfers unless he’s just arrived in Liverpool for medical etc.
I still feel something is not quite right yet, don’t know what (latest reports say no Lukaku purchase no Atsu loan), does that mean Chelsea saying - Bill we want 㿅m not 㾾m plus add-ons over 4 years.

So take it or leave it offers don't really work.

You've got two parties negotiating a circa 20M deal. If you were Chelsea you'd be looking for sell ons and future options right? It won't be quick. If it was, then you would think we're overpaying.

Given that we need him more than they need rid of him, they have the position of power in this deal. We simply have a choice to overpay, move on, or continue to negotiate.

Will he be able to play against Chelsea?

My money would be on Lukaku joining us after this game either on the Sunday or actually on transfer deadline day (one for Jim White and his crew to go wild over on SSN).

Jose's mind works in devious ways, if Lukaku scores for Everton against Chelsea at Goodison so soon after being sold, the papers will have a field day with Jose and I don't think his mega ego could take that.

The transfer will be done after that game in my opinion on the Sunday or on Deadline Day. If we hold on and don't get him Deadline Day will be a panic...

Besic can be seen training with the squad.

Link

I've got to say, it comes over as a throwaway remark/joke to me. Otherwise, it's a very odd way of going about business!

All the talk of homing in on the correct targets and only players who will fit in to our squad are really sounding hollow.

I do not believe that NONE of the players currently signed by other clubs were amongst our targets !

If Lukaku does not sign then we will have very little time in which to sign a different Â’TargetÂ’ and we could be starting the season without a striker as Kone will not be fit enough.

Our squad is depressingly weak and falls short of where we were before this window opened.

We have lost Lukaku (so far), Traore (so far), Deulofeu, Vellios and Magueye from last seasons squad.

We have long term injuries to Oviedo, Gibson, Pienaar and Kone.

Oviedo will not be ready until September at the earliest and Kone very probably is in the same boat.

Only Garbutt and Stone are ready for first team squad places with a realistic chance of playing.

In the meantime this board of buffoons are doing nothing to remedy things with anything like urgency.

If it does go late it will be due to us trying to haggle the best price. I think Lukaku is the best striker on the market and wouldn't hurt too much to have to wait since he knows the system and Roberto. But dammit I want him signed and sealed now!

We have an extra 㿊M from TV money, so there surely can't be losses, can there? So we have an extra 㿊M from TV, 㿇M & 㾸M from Fellaini, Anichebe and Jelavic, plus we must have reduced the wage bill by at least ٠M per year.

Oh yes, we still have those other operating costs... I really despair. Wake up, Evertonians — Bill and this Board mean no investment — just the reverse!

Brian Williams #33 I believe correctly mentioned that would be illegal (under the rules of the Prem/FA).............however, does anyone recall that we did have a similar situation with Tim Howard when he came from Cold Trafford?

If I am not mistaken, it was called a 'Gentlemans Agreement' & Tim did not play against his former team at Goodison (which we lost 4-2)? I don't mean during his loan spell in 2006 either, this was in 2007 AFTER his transfer!

Apparently United must have been worried that Tim would play the game of his life against Man U, yet even though it is illegal, they still asked Everton NOT to play him (hence the so called gentlemens agreement) & in my opinion we should never have agreed to it!

However in saying all the above, if it meant us getting Rom from Chelski, in a similar situation, I would say go for it, as it is only the one game, (even though I would want to say screw you Mourinho)

Lukaku would/could be a very valuable asset to have at Everton, infact I believe he could end up being a legend at Goodison with his goal exploits............. I guess in the next few weeks, we will find out one way or another, if that is to ever happen?!?

oh and Steve#30 chin up lad. Positivity goes a long way, or have you not noticed the Roberto effect?

Welcome home, Rom.