Chelsea Identify Surprise Alternative To Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku looks to be heading to Manchester United in a £75 million deal, much to the frustration of Antonio Conte and Chelsea.

After informing Diego Costa that he was surplus to requirements, Conte had been hellbent on bringing Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge for a second spell after leaving permanently in 2014 when sold to Everton by Jose Mourinho.

But the noises at the moment are that Lukaku is United-bound, and Chelsea will have to look elsewhere in order to reinforce their forward line.

Image: PA

Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, who Conte signed prior to leaving Juventus for the Italy national team job in 2014, has been heavily linked, as Torino striker Andrea Belotti.

Reports have also claimed that Chelsea have revived their interest in Swansea striker Fernando Llorente, who worked with Conte at Juventus and is regularly linked with the Premier League champions.

But the latest on Chelsea's search for another striker is that they have identified former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez as a target.

Image: PA

The Mexican striker, who now plays for Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen, was reportedly in talks with West Ham, according to Sky Sports, with Mexico's all-time top scorer said to be available for £13 million.

However, as reported by Record, Chelsea are also being linked with Hernandez, who incidentally scored his first ever goal in English football against them in the 2011 Community Shield, as a replacement for Diego Costa.

Chelsea fans appear to be in favour of a move for 'Chicharito', if Twitter is anything to go off:

Hernandez has scored 39 goals in 76 appearances since joining Leverkusen and hit 37 goals in 103 Premier League games for United between 2010 and 2015, where he spent the 2014/15 season on loan at Real Madrid, having fallen out of favour at OId Trafford following Louis Van Gaal's appointment as manager.

The 29-year-old has also been linked with a move to Tottenham and MLS side LA Galaxy.

Would you like to see Hernandez back in the Premier League?

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Topics: Chelsea, Football, Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, Javier Hernandez, West Ham

Josh Lawless

Josh is a writer who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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