10 Most Shocking Hijacked Transfer Deals In Football History
6. Romelu Lukaku To Chelsea
Chelsea have been the Premier League's best club when it comes to hijacking deals, yet that does not exempt them from getting on the wrong end of the swoop from time to time. And they found themselves to be victims as recently as last summer.
Romelu Lukaku was thought to be destined for a Stamford Bridge return after being sold to Everton and spending a few seasons at Goodison Park. The Belgian star somehow failed to convince Jose Mourinho he was good enough to remain at Chelsea, especially with the fiery Diego Costa just having joined, and he was shipped off for £28m.
Mourinho is understood to have even insisted that a buy-back clause was unnecessary but following the Blues' capture of the Premier League title last year, Antonio Conte decided that he wanted Lukaku back at the club and he left for holiday expecting a deal to be completed by the time he returned.
The Italian was pretty upset when he found out that United had gotten involved and had stolen a charge in negotiations after both clubs submitted £75m bids. The striker signed for the Old Trafford side shortly after, leaving Chelsea fans with plenty of egg on the face.