He was billed as the missing piece of the jigsaw but the Belgium striker was increasingly frustrated in the defeat by JuventusIs it time to talk about Romelu Lukaku? Or rather, to talk about the way in that this mannered Chelsea team still seems to be toying with that final element of its armoury, spinning it on its end, admiring its edges.Lukaku has been called the final piece in this jigsaw so many times, you wonder what kind of jigsaw this is that can become champions of Europe, with such excess talent available, and still claim to be incomplete. Continue reading...
Two elite, 28-year-old strikers face-off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday after a decade of changing fortunesPredator versus predator. There will be a strong temptation when Spurs and Chelsea walk out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon to view the latest instalment of this edgy, at times rather sour London rivalry through the prism of Rom and Harry.It is a natural comparison, a meeting of 28-year-old alpha-dog centre-forwards whose careers have converged without ever quite intersecting, a decade-long dance at one remove. As long ago as 2010 Tottenham were trying to sign the 17-year-old Romelu Lukaku of Anderlecht, already a darling of European football and a player who seemed on a different trajectory from the more homespun Harry...
The Belgium striker’s second debut gave a glimpse of what to expect this season, albeit against a weak defence that made it too easyOnce he had been confirmed in the starting XI, did anybody doubt that Romelu Lukaku would score against Arsenal on Sunday? Was there anybody who thought, “You know what? I think Arsenal might come up with a viable plan to stop him?” Lukaku had scored on his debut for each of the other five clubs he had played for; he required a second debut to score for Chelsea, but from kick-off on Sunday it only ever felt a matter of time. Related: Ruthless Romelu Lukaku puts feeble Arsenal to the sword on Chelsea return Related: Arsenal appear...
The striker returns to Chelsea a better and more experienced player in his prime – and with the title in his sightsWhen Sir Alex Ferguson signed Robin van Persie he knew the Dutchman could score the goals needed to take Manchester United to the title, and he proved his manager right in his first season. Thomas Tuchel is hoping Romelu Lukaku will do the same for Chelsea, as the £97.5m final piece in the jigsaw at Stamford Bridge.The Belgian has proven his capabilities everywhere he has been throughout his career, rarely experiencing a barren spell despite sometimes not being first choice. Lukaku’s form at Internazionale helped to lead them to their first Serie A title in 11 years, ending the...
Romelu Lukaku is the 20th most prolific scorer in Premier League history but he gets judged by the wrong standardsRomelu Lukaku’s two goals against Crystal Palace on Wednesday took him to 111 in the Premier League, level with Dion Dublin as the 20th most prolific scorer in the competition’s history. This was only the fourth time he has completed 90 minutes under Ole Gunnar Solskjær and they were his first goals in almost two months, and yet there is a sense Lukaku as much as anybody is benefiting from the burst of Norwegian sunshine over Old Trafford.Perhaps it does not seem like much for the 10th most expensive signing in history to pull level with the presenter of a daytime-TV...