Romelu Lukaku
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SpurSince57
Well-Known Member
- Jan 20, 2006
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I go over to Belgium fairly frequently for battlefield tours and beer, so I've seen a reasonable amount of the footy there . Sure the general standard is way below the EPL (and, whatever Dan says, below the Eredivisie too), but this kid does look like the business. Unlike, say, Babel, who's looked very ho-hum since he lost the big size advantage he had in youth football, Lukaku can muscle aside older and sometimes bigger defenders now. OK, they're not the calibre he'll run into in the EPL, but the 'junior Drogba' label isn't a silly one. In two-three years he could be an absolute monster.
Anderlecht are asking what seems like silly money, but you can't blame them. Of course there's going to be a risk and I think you'd have to be a pretty brave and very confident DoF/manager to go to your chairman and ask him to stump up the readies; could be worth it, though.
RJ1882
SC Supporter
- Aug 28, 2010
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Without doubt this kid will be somethign special, but I would fear for him signing for Spurs, or any big club now. As a fan, and seeing my club spend £20mplus on a player, I would expect big things instantly. This isnt £5m on a kid who is coming in for the future. £20m plus on a player would suggest he is here for the present. Instantly we'd want brilliance, match winning performances. Before you know it he'd be labelled a flop, getting slated on places the here, and his career would stall.
Without a big talent, but not what Spurs need now IMHO.
Without a big talent, but not what Spurs need now IMHO.
Dharmabum
Well-Known Member
- Aug 16, 2003
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It's always a risk buy a player - even "proven" players; Ade and Bentley f.ex. ITK has quoted that Anderlech wants "silly money" for him... but is "silly money" is like £20-25m I'd take the chance, but if it exceeds that I may just let Real M., Barca, Chelski, ManU or Citeh have him (doubt any other clubs could afford him then).
- May 8, 2005
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I don't disagree with anything you say, I just can't see it being our manager or chairman who is confident enough to have a go.
Khilari
Plumber. Sort of.
- Jun 19, 2008
- 3,461
- 5,287
I don't see where we've credibly been linked with him and yes, whilst we'd all love Spurs to go in for someone with obvious talent, the fact is that they may never even consider him.
Although we're 'one of the big boys' now, I think Levy will be financially smart and budget for us assuming we're making 5th this season. And because of that, I don't think we'll be spending £20m odd on any player unless they're nailed on to improve us.
He may feel burnt after the Bent / Bentley / Keane /Boateng outlay of late and sanction bargain moves (Krancjar, Pienaar) types.
So it's nice debating / fantasising about Football Manager 2011 style signings, but I have a strong suspicion we ain't interested. Not until we have a massive new stadium that generates more revenue, at least!
Although we're 'one of the big boys' now, I think Levy will be financially smart and budget for us assuming we're making 5th this season. And because of that, I don't think we'll be spending £20m odd on any player unless they're nailed on to improve us.
He may feel burnt after the Bent / Bentley / Keane /Boateng outlay of late and sanction bargain moves (Krancjar, Pienaar) types.
So it's nice debating / fantasising about Football Manager 2011 style signings, but I have a strong suspicion we ain't interested. Not until we have a massive new stadium that generates more revenue, at least!
Dharmabum
Well-Known Member
- Aug 16, 2003
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Anderlecht chief says Romelu Lukaku is headed for Premier League but it will take £25.2m to land him in summer
* General manager Van Holsbeeck says top 15 clubs in world interested
* Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Real Madrid head queue
* Anderlecht resigned to selling Lukaku in summer window
* Club working with striker's family and agent to find best career move
15 Jan 2011 08:39:00
EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey in La Manga, Spain
Anderlecht have slapped a £25.2 million price tag on Belgian teenage sensation Romelu Lukaku, the club's general manager has revealed.
In an exclusive interview with Goal.com UK, Herman van Holsbeeck claimed the "top 15 clubs in the world" are monitoring the 17-year-old striker, with the queue headed by Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Anderlect say Lukaku will not be sold this month but are resigned to losing him in the summer when he will have turned 18 and finished his schooling.Speaking at Anderlecht's winter training camp at the La Manga Club resort in Spain, Van Holsbeeck said: "If there is a team coming with €20m (£16.9m) we will keep him. He has a contract until 2013 but we have the option for two more years.
"Our price will be around €30m (£25.3m). If you ask for between €20m and €30m for a footballer in Europe there are a maximum of 15 teams who can pay this amount. These 15 teams are all interested in Romelu Lukaku but it depends sometimes on what resources the team has at the time. Everybody knows Romelu and everybody wants Romelu but some teams don’t need him at the moment.
"We received one offer from an English club three days before the end of the August transfer period. It was €10m immediately and €10m in one year. We would not accept the offer because we want to keep the player."
Anderlecht have not disclosed the identity of the club that made the offer, which was worth £17.5m based on exchange rates at the time, although Van Holsbeeck denied that it was Tottenham, as has been reported.
Most of the leading clubs around Europe are monitoring Lukaku's situation but the Belgian club believe his most likely destination is England.
Van Holsbeeck explained: "I think he will go to the Premier League. For him the team is in England. We have some managers who send people to inform us about the interest. It depends on the offers. We know that teams like Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool are interested in him and that they follow the player.
"There is some interest from Real Madrid but we know they are interested in every good young player. What for us is the right club? The Premier League clubs from the UK are the biggest clubs in the world with a lot of money. In Spain you have only Real Madrid and Barcelona who have big money. In Italy there is also the financial crisis. Or he goes to Germany.
"We have a player with the capacity to play in the UK, where you need to be strong and fast. There are teams who can pay this [£25m] for really top players. I think he has the capacity to play there and it is the best competition in the world."
Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has openly admitted his admiration for a player who has continually broken records since making his Anderlecht debut only 11 days after his 16th birthday. The 6ft 3in forward, who specialises as a lone central striker, became the youngest ever top scorer in Belgium last season with 15 league goals, and his 76 appearances in all competitions since breaking into the first team have yielded 33 goals.
Given that Lukaku has a release clause in his contract that will be triggered in 2013, Anderlecht accept that the striker is probably in his final season at the club.
"At the end of the season it will be difficult for us to keep him," said Van Holsbeeck. "I know he was a supporter of Chelsea when he was a young boy. If Manchester United, Manchester City or Tottenham come in for him, it is also an interesting prospect.
"In the negotiations with the parents and management team everything is clear. We are like partners in this deal. Sometimes there is a fight but here things are very clear with everybody.
"There are good agreements. We want to do it since the beginning with Romelu and his family. We will discuss the team and see what is the best for all the parties. It depends on how the discussions are going with the club. Maybe the club let him play for six more months or one more year at Anderlecht."
Van Holsbeeck admitted that it was unrealistic for Anderlecht to hang on to Lukaku for much longer.
"If you have this kind of talent you want to keep him and do something in the Champions League," he explained. "But this is life in modern football. If you have a young player in the youth academy and there is a team who will pay €30m when you have a budget of €35m per year, if you don’t sell you are a bad manager. Our club is a company and there are people who invest money.
"At this moment that is the only way we can keep our level as the biggest and top club in Belgium. If you can make young players better and sell them for big money you can do more things. We want to build a bigger stadium. For Champions League we only have 20,000 people. Every match is sold out.
"We are busy now building a new training centre for the youth and first teams. This is my eighth season here. We have been champions four times and we have been in the Champions League four times but the level in the Champions League for us is a little bit too high.
* General manager Van Holsbeeck says top 15 clubs in world interested
* Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Real Madrid head queue
* Anderlecht resigned to selling Lukaku in summer window
* Club working with striker's family and agent to find best career move
15 Jan 2011 08:39:00
EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey in La Manga, Spain
Anderlecht have slapped a £25.2 million price tag on Belgian teenage sensation Romelu Lukaku, the club's general manager has revealed.
In an exclusive interview with Goal.com UK, Herman van Holsbeeck claimed the "top 15 clubs in the world" are monitoring the 17-year-old striker, with the queue headed by Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Anderlect say Lukaku will not be sold this month but are resigned to losing him in the summer when he will have turned 18 and finished his schooling.Speaking at Anderlecht's winter training camp at the La Manga Club resort in Spain, Van Holsbeeck said: "If there is a team coming with €20m (£16.9m) we will keep him. He has a contract until 2013 but we have the option for two more years.
"Our price will be around €30m (£25.3m). If you ask for between €20m and €30m for a footballer in Europe there are a maximum of 15 teams who can pay this amount. These 15 teams are all interested in Romelu Lukaku but it depends sometimes on what resources the team has at the time. Everybody knows Romelu and everybody wants Romelu but some teams don’t need him at the moment.
"We received one offer from an English club three days before the end of the August transfer period. It was €10m immediately and €10m in one year. We would not accept the offer because we want to keep the player."
Anderlecht have not disclosed the identity of the club that made the offer, which was worth £17.5m based on exchange rates at the time, although Van Holsbeeck denied that it was Tottenham, as has been reported.
Most of the leading clubs around Europe are monitoring Lukaku's situation but the Belgian club believe his most likely destination is England.
Van Holsbeeck explained: "I think he will go to the Premier League. For him the team is in England. We have some managers who send people to inform us about the interest. It depends on the offers. We know that teams like Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool are interested in him and that they follow the player.
"There is some interest from Real Madrid but we know they are interested in every good young player. What for us is the right club? The Premier League clubs from the UK are the biggest clubs in the world with a lot of money. In Spain you have only Real Madrid and Barcelona who have big money. In Italy there is also the financial crisis. Or he goes to Germany.
"We have a player with the capacity to play in the UK, where you need to be strong and fast. There are teams who can pay this [£25m] for really top players. I think he has the capacity to play there and it is the best competition in the world."
Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has openly admitted his admiration for a player who has continually broken records since making his Anderlecht debut only 11 days after his 16th birthday. The 6ft 3in forward, who specialises as a lone central striker, became the youngest ever top scorer in Belgium last season with 15 league goals, and his 76 appearances in all competitions since breaking into the first team have yielded 33 goals.
Given that Lukaku has a release clause in his contract that will be triggered in 2013, Anderlecht accept that the striker is probably in his final season at the club.
"At the end of the season it will be difficult for us to keep him," said Van Holsbeeck. "I know he was a supporter of Chelsea when he was a young boy. If Manchester United, Manchester City or Tottenham come in for him, it is also an interesting prospect.
"In the negotiations with the parents and management team everything is clear. We are like partners in this deal. Sometimes there is a fight but here things are very clear with everybody.
"There are good agreements. We want to do it since the beginning with Romelu and his family. We will discuss the team and see what is the best for all the parties. It depends on how the discussions are going with the club. Maybe the club let him play for six more months or one more year at Anderlecht."
Van Holsbeeck admitted that it was unrealistic for Anderlecht to hang on to Lukaku for much longer.
"If you have this kind of talent you want to keep him and do something in the Champions League," he explained. "But this is life in modern football. If you have a young player in the youth academy and there is a team who will pay €30m when you have a budget of €35m per year, if you don’t sell you are a bad manager. Our club is a company and there are people who invest money.
"At this moment that is the only way we can keep our level as the biggest and top club in Belgium. If you can make young players better and sell them for big money you can do more things. We want to build a bigger stadium. For Champions League we only have 20,000 people. Every match is sold out.
"We are busy now building a new training centre for the youth and first teams. This is my eighth season here. We have been champions four times and we have been in the Champions League four times but the level in the Champions League for us is a little bit too high.
MikeCOYS
Member
- Jan 8, 2011
- 553
- 19
We won't spend that much on a teenager, IMO he'll be a great aspect in the future for Spurs or PL but I don't see us splashing out that much.
Question, I don't remember Spurs ever spending over 17 mil on a player. I only remember Bentley was our biggest transfer, am I wrong? We're good at making profit on players but I'm grateful Harry is here, if he weren't our club will be selling all our stars again.
whitelightwhiteheat
SC Supporter
- Jul 21, 2006
- 6,517
- 3,195
I think this kid is worth the risk, he looks to have all the attributes of a world class target man type striker (a la Didier Drogba).
Big, powerful, quick, good eye for goal. Yes please, let's get in there! (unlikely at best though).
Big, powerful, quick, good eye for goal. Yes please, let's get in there! (unlikely at best though).
brasil_spur
SC Supporter
- Aug 25, 2006
- 12,723
- 16,849
i'm sure we could gt him for say £17m plus £8m of performance related add-ons.
danielneeds
Kick-Ass
- May 5, 2004
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We might get permission to speak to him, but I imagine the player has his sights set on the likes of United or Real...
- Jan 14, 2004
- 15,105
- 9,122
- Staff
- #33
That might change by the summer, especially after we win the Champions League. :razz:
AUSpur
Well-Known Member
- Aug 31, 2010
- 1,145
- 1,116
A bit ridiculous to keep calling him a "kid." That's like calling Lebron James a kid coming out of high school. He's physically mature already, and although I'm sure he has some maturing/growing up to do, it's not like we're talking about some scrawny kid with good ball skills who may or may not retain it as he matures physically.
Dharmabum
Well-Known Member
- Aug 16, 2003
- 8,274
- 12,242
No mention of Spurs but I still have a faint hope Spurs can get him...
http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/liverpool-must-bid-25m-for-teenage-striker-superst
Liverpool target Romelu Lukaku appears set for England after admitting the Barclays Premier League is a more likely destination than Spain.
The Belgian international striker has been earning rave reviews for his Anderlecht performances in the Pro League, and Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is set to challenge the cream of Europe for the player's signature.
Damien Comolli has earmarked the player as a potential Anfield star of the future, and the People claimed that the Liverpool director of football strategy made contact over a potential move just over a week ago.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid are also thought to be interested in the player dubbed 'the next Didier Drogba', and a transfer battle could commence immediately for one of the hottest talents in European and world football.
"Chelsea and Arsenal tried to sign me when I was 13, 14," Lukaku told Goal.com UK.
"I have never hidden it, but it is not because Chelsea is my favourite team that I have to go there. There is also Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. These big five are very interesting."
"I admire Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid is a great club, but I see England as more likely than Spain."
Liverpool originally presented an offer that would reach €23 million including add-on payments for appearances at club and international level, according to reports. It is now understood that the Belgian champions want a fee in the region of £25 million.
http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/liverpool-must-bid-25m-for-teenage-striker-superst
Liverpool target Romelu Lukaku appears set for England after admitting the Barclays Premier League is a more likely destination than Spain.
The Belgian international striker has been earning rave reviews for his Anderlecht performances in the Pro League, and Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is set to challenge the cream of Europe for the player's signature.
Damien Comolli has earmarked the player as a potential Anfield star of the future, and the People claimed that the Liverpool director of football strategy made contact over a potential move just over a week ago.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid are also thought to be interested in the player dubbed 'the next Didier Drogba', and a transfer battle could commence immediately for one of the hottest talents in European and world football.
"Chelsea and Arsenal tried to sign me when I was 13, 14," Lukaku told Goal.com UK.
"I have never hidden it, but it is not because Chelsea is my favourite team that I have to go there. There is also Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. These big five are very interesting."
"I admire Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid is a great club, but I see England as more likely than Spain."
Liverpool originally presented an offer that would reach €23 million including add-on payments for appearances at club and international level, according to reports. It is now understood that the Belgian champions want a fee in the region of £25 million.
TwoSaintsComeMarching
PIMP-tastic
- Jul 26, 2008
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Archibald-CPH
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- Mar 15, 2005
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HildoSpur
Likes Erik Lamela, deal with it.
- Oct 1, 2005
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Far too much cash for a young kid imo. We need somebody proven right now who can come in and instantly do the business for us like VDV has. I've no doubt this lad has tons of talent but for that money it's just too much of a risk for us at the moment.
Paolo10
Well-Known Member
- Apr 6, 2004
- 6,179
- 7,621
Doesn't matter if he's 7ft 5 and 5ft wide, he's still a fucking kid and unproven in a top league. For a lot cheaper you could buy full internationals in their prime with goalscoring records longer than that kid's schlong, which I'm sure is like a boa constrictor with veins on it like a weightlifter's neck...because he's physically mature already.
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