Money makes the world go round, and Chelsea have lots of it, so the world is spinning fast at Stamford Bridge. It's a numbers game, and the Blues nailed the figure to prise Lukaku away from Inter Milan back to West London. Even though Lukaku initially turned down the chance to return to his former club, he soon made a U-turn on that decision following subsequent talks.
Numbers behind Lukaku's move to Chelsea
On Thursday night, Chelsea completed a stunning £98 million deal to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge. The European champions required a striker of note, and Thomas Tuchel pinpointed Romelu Lukaku as the best fit to take them to the promised land.
Lukaku, who left for Everton in 2013 for £28 million, after failing to impose his bulk at the North London side, returns an important component of a Chelsea project.
According to The Athletic, Lukaku returns having smashed all manners of financial records. He becomes the highest earner on Tuchel's side with the Belgian's salary surpassing new team-mate Kante's £290,000-per-week wage.
The report claims that with image rights and bonuses put into the equation, the Belgian goes home with between £325,000 and £450,000-per-week. The figures reported are as much as £160,000 more than what the previous highest earner at the club, Ngolo Kante, receives.
Lukaku returning to finish unfinished business
Lukaku has journeyed across clubs from Anderlecht to Inter Milan before finally landing at the club that first brought him to England.
Having played at Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Everton and Manchester United, the Belgian never got the respect his achievements required. A return to England thus becomes an opportunity to fix those wrongs. Lukaku left unsung but now returns as king. Lukaku's sojourn at Manchester United leaves bile in the mouth, and the player must be keen to prove to the Red Devils that they made a mistake in letting him go.
An unheralded record
With his transfer to Chelsea, Lukaku overtakes Neymar as the player who has changed clubs for the highest accumulative transfer fees in football history. Neymar held the record at €310.2 million but is now surpassed by Lukaku's €327.56 million.
Lukaku's value also makes him the fourth most valuable forward behind Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. Romelu Lukaku also sits at number 20 in the Premiership all-time top scorers with 113 goals. He stands behind illustrious players like Jamie Vardy (118), Steven Gerrard (120), Dwight Yorke (123), but is still some way off top scorer Alan Shearer who sits at 260.
An excited Lukaku
On signing for Chelsea, Lukaku says he is happy to be back at the club. According to him, it's been a long journey, but he returns with more experience and is more mature now.
The 28-year-old was also impressed with thection the club was going as it fits his ambition.
Lukaku will wear the No 18 shirt, the same number he used to wear when he first joined from Anderlecht.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
