Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has admitted that he wants to make a move out of Stamford Bridge this summer.
The 21-year-old Belgian, who arrived from Genk for a reported transfer fee of €12 million in the summer of 2011, has not been able to establish himself at Chelsea, spending the last two seasons on-loan at West Bromwich Albion and Everton.
Despite managing to impress during his loan spells, scoring 17 and 15 Premier League goals for West Brom and Everton respectively, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insisted on signing a new striker this summer.
And now with the Blues on the verge of signing Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa, who has already passed a medical at Stamford Bridge, for a transfer fee of £32 million, Lukaku wants to leave Chelsea this summer.
"You know Chelsea, every year they buy a new top striker. I remember me coming into the dressing room last year and seeing Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba and going, 'Whoah! What's happening here?" said Lukaku.
In addition to Costa, the Blues are also rumoured to be interested in securing the signatures of Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi and Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic despite them already having the likes of Fernando Torres and Demba Ba.
And Lukaku, who is currently busy preparing for the 2014 World Cup with Belgium, has hinted at handing in a transfer request at Stamford Bridge this summer.
"But no problem. Many clubs are interested in me. At this stage, I have to look to myself. I have to play a good World Cup. That's very interesting for all the players looking for a transfer. And I must be one of them. Chelsea know my point of view."
The Belgian would certainly not find it hard to get a new club as many sides including Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are believed to be interested in getting his signature.
However, this news comes as a bit of a surprise as Lukaku had earlier expressed his desire to remain at Stamford Bridge and see out his remaining two-year contract.
"It would be nice to get clarity beforehand, but that will not happen, so I'm completely focused on the World Cup. You know, I still have a two-year contract at the biggest club in England, because that's Chelsea. So I still hope to play there. Chelsea have a good coach," Lukaku had said earlier.
