As if Manchester City needed another striker, reports out of Belgium, according to Caught Offside and the Mirror, are suggesting that the English club will officially sign 17-year-old Belgian Romelu Lukaku for £18m in July. He’s been in terrific form in the Belgian First Division for Anderlecht, notching 17 goals and 4 assists in just 31 appearances for all competitions. Of course, this transfer makes sense. City are constantly linked with the top attacking talent in the world and with Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz set for permanent exits from the club (at least it’s rumored), signing the 4,348th striker since new ownership has taken over would only make sense. Lukaku has already been described as the next Didier Drogba by many pundits and coincidentally enough, the player has the desire to follow in Drogba’s footsteps. The Belgian international has been linked with all the top clubs in Europe and has made it known he would love to play for a big club. Let’s take a listen:
“As a young kid you dream of playing in every big team. It is not because Chelsea is my favourite team that I have to specifically go there.
“I will see. It is something for my father and agent. There are so many clubs and big teams. For a young player sometimes you have to relax for a while and focus on your own team. I’m very happy with the situation at Anderlecht. I have the support of the club and other players. It is my environment and I’ve grown up here.”
“If I see the games and some action in the Premier League, with my qualities I think I can play there. I’m very fast, I’m very strong and I work a lot. If I train with players with more quality I can be better than I am here. I want to improve.
“My father was my hero when I was still a boy. I looked up to Cristiano Ronaldo and then it was always [Didier] Drogba. As I understand more and more about football I see the qualities I have and I can see myself in him [Drogba]. I have almost the same qualities and I want to follow in his footsteps.”
“There were a few other clubs interested in me after my first year at Anderlecht,” he explained. “If you play well clubs will always follow you. You know that but you don’t let it affect your mind.
“I want to reach the highest level and win prizes. I want to win the Champions League, the Europa League also. I want to play in the Premier League and win some [league] titles or the Spanish league and win those titles. That is also a dream. Why not?”
There you have it, folks. If indeed the rumors are true, Lukaku would compete alongside Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko, and Mario Balotelli for a starting position, a tough group to break through. If Mancini wants to begin to receive significant production out of each player and keep his men happy, he will surely have to employ a new formation involving additional strikers. At any rate, Lukaku is a true talent not to be ignored. Look out, EPL. Here come’s a phenomenal player.
