Thursday, 9th June, 2011
Chelsea are working overtime on a double swoop for Belgian duo Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne.
The Londoners are pushing ahead with the deals despite not having a manager in place at Stamford Bridge, determined as they are to infuse their side with youth, and met representatives of both players yesterday.
Anderlecht striker Lukaku has long been chased by Chelsea, along with a host of other sides, but a fee of €22.5M will be enough to persuade the Belgians to cash in on a player who has been labelled the "new Didier Drogba".
Lukaku is also expected to go into the first team immediately upon his arrival.
Genk star De Bruyne, who was a key figure in the club’s capturing of the Belgian title this season, is also expected to join Chelsea, although the current sticking point concerns what would become of the midfielder once he does.
Chelsea do not believe the 19-year-old is ready for first team football at Stamford Bridge and have floated the idea of loaning him out to Eredivisie side Vitesse for next season. De Bruyne however sees this as a step back and is at present hesitant to agree to such a plan.
Indeed, De Bruyne favours a loan move back to Genk, who will participate in the Champions League next season. Anderlecht too has been mooted as a possible destination, but the midfielder would prefer his current stomping grounds.
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