Despite losing £71 million ($114 million) in 2010, Chelsea spent £71 million in January — including £50 million ($80 million) on Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. That sum, though, could have been nearly £100 million ($160 million), as Chelsea reportedly failed in a €30 Million ($41 million) bid for Anderlecht phenom Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku had been heavily linked with both Liverpool and Manchester City, but the young Belgian international ultimately stayed home, despite the over-the-top bid from Chelsea, the club that the so-called “new Drogba” supports.
“Chelsea wanted to buy this winter,” Anderlecht Herman Van Holsbeeck told Belgian TV show Reyers. “We said no. He is not ready, and we still keep one to two seasons. His price? €30 million.”
Lukaku is valued at €14 million ($20 million) according to transfermarkt.co.uk, though in this January market, traditional valuations meant very little.
