Romelu Lukaku vs Alvaro Morata 2017/18

MThomas

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Chelsea wanting Lukaku and Conte wanting him are two different things. Most reporters with closer ties to CFC have always said that Conte's number 1 option was Morata. Conte confirmed that today as well. The club though were clearly sounding out a few options including Lukaku. Either way, both clubs have got good players and personally, I'm happier with Morata, but would have been happy with either player.
Why didn't Chelsea move in for Morata when Manchester United came quite close to signing him, why wait until both we and Milan couldn't agree on a transfer fee
 

roonster09

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Chelsea wanting Lukaku and Conte wanting him are two different things. Most reporters with closer ties to CFC have always said that Conte's number 1 option was Morata. Conte confirmed that today as well. The club though were clearly sounding out a few options including Lukaku. Either way, both clubs have got good players and personally, I'm happier with Morata, but would have been happy with either player.
From Chelsea's mouthpiece on July 3rd:

Antonio Conte tells Chelsea to sign Romelu Lukaku at any price - even £100m

Despite the club making moves for midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, central defender Antonio Rudiger and left-back Alex Sandro, it is striker Lukaku who is Conte’s number one target.

Having told Diego Costa he is not part of his plans by text message, Chelsea head coach Conte is desperate to land Lukaku and is confident the 24-year-old can live up to any price tag.

It is Conte and not club chiefs who identified Lukaku as the man to replace Costa ahead of Alvaro Morata, Andrea Belotti and others.

Conte tried to sign Lukaku for Juventus during the Belgian’s first spell at Chelsea and believes he perfectly fits into his favoured systems of play, as either a lone striker or part of a front two.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...-tells-chelsea-sign-romelu-lukaku-price-even/
 

UsualSuspect

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Why didn't Chelsea move in for Morata when Manchester United came quite close to signing him, why wait until both we and Milan couldn't agree on a transfer fee
Never moved concretely for Morata nor Lukaku. Most likely due to the disagreement between board and manager but who knows...
 

roonster09

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Never moved concretely for Morata nor Lukaku. Most likely due to the disagreement between board and manager but who knows...
So you are going to ignore what Chelsea mouthpiece said just before the deal happened?
 

TheReligion

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Chelsea wanting Lukaku and Conte wanting him are two different things. Most reporters with closer ties to CFC have always said that Conte's number 1 option was Morata. Conte confirmed that today as well. The club though were clearly sounding out a few options including Lukaku. Either way, both clubs have got good players and personally, I'm happier with Morata, but would have been happy with either player.
Who has said that Conte wanted Morata? Quotes?

I've asked a few people where this comes from but no one can add anything other than rumours. What is fact is Chelsea desperately matched United's bid in the last minute to try and sign Lukaku.

Lukaku's friend also stated Conte rang Lukaku to try and persuade him to sign.

All this Conte never wanted him appears to be a myth.
 

UsualSuspect

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Who has said that Conte wanted Morata? Quotes?

I've asked a few people where this comes from but no one can add anything other than rumours. What is fact is Chelsea desperately matched United's bid in the last minute to try and sign Lukaku.

Lukaku's friend also stated Conte rang Lukaku to try and persuade him to sign.

All this Conte never wanted him appears to be a myth.
You would have to look at guys like Pat Nevin and Dan Levene. Like I said, the club was definitely interested, as they would be in the entire list of targets which reportedly included Morata, Sanchez and Lukaku. The transfer committee then takes over and pushes for the most viable options. But in the case of Lukaku, he was favoured by the technical director Michael Emenalo. Conte of course would be satisfied with anyone on the list, but he wanted Morata last season and Morata was his number 1 choice again in this window.
 
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UsualSuspect

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So you are going to ignore what Chelsea mouthpiece said just before the deal happened?
You mean am I going to ignore Matt Law and rather consider the opinion of a few others and the manager himself? Yes.
 

roonster09

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You mean am I going to ignore Matt Law and rather consider the opinion of a few others and the manager himself? Yes.
So the manager said Morata was always his first choice?

It is hilarious when people choose to believe Twitter gimps when it suits their argument.
Now Matt law is twitter gimp? :lol:

He said that when Lukaku was still favorite to sign for Chelsea.
 

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shaggy

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If any Chelsea fan seriously thinks they weren't in for / interested in Lukaku then they are massively deluded.
 

sullydnl

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Oh yeah once the player is singed he will say "Lukaku was always my first choice, but Im content with my second choice".
Tbf the stories that Conte wanted Morata while the board wanted Lukaku started as the season was ending, long before we signed Lukaku.
 

roonster09

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Tbf the stories that Conte wanted Morata while the board wanted Lukaku started as the season was ending, long before we signed Lukaku.
Week before we signed Lukaku, Matt Law also reported Lukaku was Conte's choice not club's. He specifically mentioned this part in the article and I posted it in the last page.
 

Siorac

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It is hilarious when people choose to believe Twitter gimps when it suits their argument.
The credibility of English journalists on the Caf wholly depends on what they're saying. If it's something we want to hear, then their word is gospel. If it's something we don't like, they're ridiculous hacks who know nothing.
 

Z_Wolf

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We could have easily signed Morata if we were willing to pay what RM asked. It was reported we had agreed terms with the player. Conte can say what he wants but it's pretty clear Jose signed the player he wanted most.
 

cyberman

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Don't be silly, that was the Juventus board foisting their preferences on Conte.
I love how often the Juve point is brought up, like Conte didn't quit because Juve wouldn't sign who he wanted.
There's every chance Conte didn't even want Morata at Juve.
 

Mr.Ridiculous__

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Ignore the propaganda. Chelsea's desperate move to sign Lukaku at the end proves who their number 1 target was.
 

UsualSuspect

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Wasn't there massive noise about Chelsea wanting Lukaku, as well as multiple reports suggesting that Conte was seething when he lost Lukaku to United? Also, why that face-saving last minute bid, and why did Chelsea only appear to move for Morata after Lukaku had been signed by United? Genuine questions.
'Massive noise' only seemed to coincide when United agreed a fee, so most likely just a dramatic media narrative. All you need to google is 'Conte furious' to read a ton of BS about things Conte has been seething about. The transfer committee started the process in January already as it was already decided Diego would be leaving. No doubt we sounded him out/considered a bid.

I really don't understand the fascination with this story, people seemingly to want to prove that Conte was 'hurt' and 'lost out on his no.1 target' when all that really matters is that in the eyes of most fans and pundits, Chelsea got the better and more suitable player, and United got the player they wanted and a proven goalscorer.
 

Brwned

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Ignore the propaganda. Chelsea's desperate move to sign Lukaku at the end proves who their number 1 target was.
Yeah, that's pretty clear-cut. I agree with @UsualSuspect that it's odd (and a bit sad) that people are so keen to talk about how furious Conte must be with getting his 2nd choice. That said I also think it's odd that he's so keen to deny the obvious. If Chelsea weren't desperate to sign Lukaku they wouldn't have made a last ditch attempt to buy him. He was obviously more than just a target. He was the first striker they bid for. By definition, Morata was 2nd choice.

It's entirely possible that Morata wasn't the club's preferred choice but he was Conte's choice, but you'll never know - most of the gossip this summer from "credible sources" has been wrong, as usual, and Conte is obviously going to say he got his man. It'd be stupid to say anything otherwise. What we do know is that Chelsea didn't get their first choice. Why Chelsea fans are even trying to debate that is beyond me given it's the only part of the discussion that's anchored around a tangible fact...
 

jungledrums

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'Massive noise' only seemed to coincide when United agreed a fee, so most likely just a dramatic media narrative. All you need to google is 'Conte furious' to read a ton of BS about things Conte has been seething about. The transfer committee started the process in January already as it was already decided Diego would be leaving. No doubt we sounded him out/considered a bid.

I really don't understand the fascination with this story, people seemingly to want to prove that Conte was 'hurt' and 'lost out on his no.1 target' when all that really matters is that in the eyes of most fans and pundits, Chelsea got the better and more suitable player, and United got the player they wanted and a proven goalscorer.
I'm just asking questions mate. I came in and read the conversation, I didn't come in and start it. That criticism could equally be levelled at you. If you care so little, why do you respond?
I'd disagree that most pundits believe that Morata is better though. Seems a convenient stance given you did get Morata. More wise would be to observe them this coming season and make a judgement.
 

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Morata scored a goal every 80 minutes or something this past season. Maybe he has improved his goal scoring nous. His technique and ability to link play is better. We shall see. But I fear that in 3 years time, Chelsea will be happier with their signing than we will be with ours.
Not really sure what you're basing this on. Lukaku is one of only four players to have scored 80 PL goals before the age of 24 and he has scored at a rate of nearly 1 in 2 throughout a club career that has taken him to the mighty WBA and Everton. He's going to absolutely fill his boots at United.
 

Zoo

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He can be his first choice without being an already ready version of Conte's perfect striker?
Maybe but coming straight after his strange gushing over Kane I'm not sure. Anyway some of the pundits were making out that Morata was so much more suited to Conte whilst belittling Lukaku. I'm sure both will do well.
 

whatwha

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I don't think United or Chelsea ended up with their first choice tbh.
 

whatwha

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Considering Morata went for less than Lukaku, most likely United did.
Considering Morata went for less than Lukaku, most likely United did.
Not so sure about that. I think they sold him to Chelsea for less than we offered. If we didn't want him, why'd we make a final offer (according to the respected Di Marzio) just 12 hours before striking a deal for Rom?
 

Robertd0803

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This thread makes for some pretty woeful reading now, can only imagine how bad it will get every weekend when one scores and the other doesn't.
 

Random Task

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I don't think United or Chelsea ended up with their first choice tbh.
Impossible to say which player was first choice, neither manager will admit one way or the other.

But for me at least, Lukaku is by far the more secure option given his vast experience in the prem and the fact that he has proven himself over a number of years in said league. There is no evidence to suggest Morata will even adapt to the prem, especially after playing in La Liga and Serie A, where intensity and physicality are significantly lessened.