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The Romelu Lukaku loan this summer remains a bit of a mystery. While there were some obvious reasons to loan him out -- despite his impact at Goodison Park, it's clear he's not yet the finished product -- the stories and quotes surrounding his surprise move to Everton on transfer deadline day have never really added up.
Now Michael Laudrup's come into the picture to muddy the waters still further, claiming that when he asked about Lukaku's availability, Chelsea were intent on keeping him:
We asked about him. I didn't call again because Chelsea said they wanted to keep him, but maybe I should have called again.
He is a real talent. He is fast, can use both feet, he is strong, he is good in the air and is good on the counter-attack. He has been a huge signing for [Everton].
-Source: Mail.
Which is weird. The rumours around this deal might never be resolved, and if they do I'd guess it's a long way in the future. Maybe we'll find out in Lukaku's autobiography or something -- I'm just hoping it's written after a long and productive career as a Chelsea icon.
