Chelsea face a major battle with Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid to land Anderlecht wonderkid Romelu Lukaku.
The Telegraph says Lukaku attracted offers from Real Madrid and at least one Premier League club during the summer, with Anderlecht admitting that they even turned down one bid of £17.5 million for a player regarded as the best young attacking prospect in Europe. Anderlecht did not disclose the identity of the club who made that offer but, in Belgium, it is rumoured to be Tottenham.
Most of the leading clubs across Europe are now closely monitoring the situation and, according to sources in Belgium, it is Mourinho's Real Madrid and Chelsea who are currently best positioned.
Indeed, according to one source, Lukaku has indicated that either Madrid or Chelsea would be his preferred destination.
One factor that would be in Chelsea's favour is the presence of Didier Drogba, who is idolised by Lukaku.
The 17 year-old was even photographed at Stamford Bridge in a Chelsea shirt earlier this year when he went on a stadium tour as part of a school trip. During the visit, Lukaku said: "I'm very pleased to be here - unfortunately, I didn't meet Drogba. If ever one day I will cry, it will be when I sign for Chelsea."
Drogba has since been in direct contact.
"Yes, I called him," Drogba told Voetbal magazine. "I received his phone number from Vincent Kompany. 'You should sign for Chelsea,' I told him."
