Some debates will go on and on, arguments that live through the ages and may never be solved. Is there life beyond this planet? How did we all get here? Where are we all going? Who is Jack the Ripper? How are kicks caused in snooker? You might be able to add ‘Is Romelu Lukaku really that good?’ to the list.
On the one hand you’ll have people pointing to the healthy chunk of goals he’s scored in the last few seasons, achievements augmented by his youth, but others might cite his form when he’s not scoring those goals, wandering around like a disinterested child pushing some food around their plate that they don’t really want. Plenty are in the former camp, though, namely current club Everton and former/possibly future club Chelsea. Apparently the Ev are somewhat miffed that Antonio Conte’s boys are trying to unsettle the Lukaku despite not actually making a bid to take him back to Stamford Bridge yet, and will talk to his agent Mino Raiola (who might be in the north-west for some reason) to get things resolved. Chelsea will apparently throw Asmir Begovic and Loïc Remy into any bid to grease the wheels a bit.
Of course Chelsea will have to make some room for Lukaku, and according to your old Currant Bun they’ll do this by offering Diego Costa around to whoever fancies him. The first targets are Napoli and Internazionale, both flush with cash after the sale of Gonzalo Higuaín and a Chinese takeover, respectively. As an aside, they might want to wait until Inter’s new manager is confirmed: word is that Roberto Mancini has been binned, and Frank de Boer is all set to sashay in and take the job. That managerial shift might mean a potential Inter move for Samir Nasri, mooted at the weekend, will be put on the back burner. And speaking of money washing around Milan, AC are in the process of their own Chinese takeover, and will reportedly celebrate by splashing £300m cash around the place, starting with a £37m move for Real Madrid imp and supposed Arsenal target Isco.
Back on the ‘big Belgian striker leaving Merseyside’ tip, apparently Christian Benteke has agreed personal terms with Besiktas as Liverpool look to get their money back on the centre-forward. Jürgen Klopp noted this weekend that they weren’t going to just give Benteke away, and whoever wants him will have to stump up. Crystal Palace are still lurking, although his agent told your old pals the Guardian that nothing has been agreed just yet.
As for incomings at Liverpool, they are among a lengthy queue of clubs interested in Charlton flyer Ademola Lookman, the winger/forward who should be sold by south London’s premier basket case club in the coming weeks. Arsenal, Tottenham and Southampton are all also sniffing around, and will have to stump up north of £2million to get the 18-year-old. Remember when £2m was a lot of money? Remember when things cost less than they do now? Good times. Another incomer at Southampton might well be Manolo Gabbiadini, the Napoli forward who sadly appears not be related to Marco.
Other stuff? Leicester will up their bid for Burnley defender Michael Keane to something like...bloody hell...£17m; West Ham are close to bagging Swansea striker André Ayew and Olympiakos left-back Arthur Masuaku; West Ham are also exploring a loan deal for Real Madrid child Martin Ødegaard; Swansea could spend £15m on Borja Bastón, the Atlético Madrid forward.
Finally, if you’re in the market for an expensive underperforming striker and a very expensive underperforming central defender, then Manchester City is the place for you. The Manchester Evening News seems to think that both Wilfried Bony and Eliaquim Mangala are very much not in Pep Guardiola’s plans, and will be allowed to move should anyone think to take them. “Bony is a really nice guy and he trained really good so I don’t have complaints about him,” said Guardiola this weekend. Ouch.
