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Lukaku: Sell me or keep me

ESPN staff
July 8, 2014
Lukaku scored a great goal before the World Cup.

Romelu Lukaku wants Chelsea to either show their faith in him or sell him.

After spending the last two seasons on loan at West Brom and Everton, Lukaku's Chelsea future remains unclear following Jose Mourinho's soon-to-be-sealed acquisition of long-time target Diego Costa, but the Belgium striker has rejected the idea of another temporary move.

"What I don't want is to be loaned out," said Lukaku, according to the The Mirror. "I am 21 and I have been loaned for the last two seasons. Thibaut Courtois was loaned for three seasons and will be without doubt the first-choice Chelsea goalkeeper.

"And Kevin De Bruyne has been transferred permanently to Wolfsburg. They are free in their heads - it is not my case. That would free me totally."

Lukaku had earlier made the extraordinary claim that he has not spoken to anyone at Chelsea about his future since last September.

He scored Belgium's extra-time winner against the USA in the last 16 of the World Cup and has been linked with Juventus and Monaco along with Atletico Madrid - where he could prove a direct replacement for Costa.

Indeed, reports in Spain claim that Atletico have already reached a deal with Chelsea for the striker - who is determined to play in the Champions League next season in order to further his development.

"I don't know - there are several clubs that are interested," he said. "I need to make a good decision to reach the absolute top. It is a dream for every attacker. I want to show what I can do and play in the Champions League with a big club.

"The decision will soon be taken. I have some ideas but we will have to see what is best for the clubs. I don't want to negotiate before the clubs have come to an agreement."

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