Lukaku + £18m: Why Chelsea Would Be Foolish To Offer Cash Plus Player For Roma Defender

Romelu Lukaku must be wondering what he must do to get a game at Chelsea after spending two seasons on loan away from Stamford Bridge. The bullish Belgian striker scored 17 Premier League goals for West Brom last season and 16 in five less games for Everton. Reports are suggesting that he may be moved on the in summer on a permanent basis, as Chelsea go after Roma defender Mehdi Benatia with an £18m deal plus the forward.

For me, it would be a poor move.

Lukaku is now a proven Premier League goal scorer and has impressed at weaker clubs than Chelsea, and ticks almost every box that Chelsea could ask for. He’s powerful and could be the focal point of the attack and most impressively is still only 20 years of age.

Benatia, however, is 27 and has never played in England. He has experience with Roma and Udinese in Serie A and has earned 31 caps for Morocco, but there are plenty of flaws in his game.

He is a slow player and is often caught out of position, while his frame makes it easy for the more skilful players to turn him inside out. The money plus Lukaku deal seems like an awful one to me.