ROMELU Lukaku has joined Everton on a season-long loan after Chelsea failed to offload Demba Ba on transfer deadline day.
Blues manager Jose Mourinho only wants three strikers on his books this season and had intended to send Ba on loan with Arsenal ready to take the Senegal international.
The Special One has added Samuel Eto’o to his squad to offer competition for Fernando Torres and felt he only needed one further option.
Newcastle United and West Ham were also in the running for Ba’s signature but the player was understood to be holding out for Champions League football with the Gunners.
Mourinho was unwilling to allow the former Magpies frontman join a team he sees as an increasing challenger for the title following their acquisition of Mesut Ozil tonight.
That left Ba stranded at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea needing to look elsewhere as they prepared to clear the decks in SW6.
Lukaku was the one to make way, weighing up offers from Everton and the Baggies, and was believed to be keen on a return to the Hawthorns after a successful loan spell last season.
But Chronicle Sport understands Chelsea wanted the man they see as a long-term replacement for Didier Drogba to test himself at Goodison Park and sent him there instead.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest Chelsea news.
Follow me on Twitter .
