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      Ashley Cole reveals ‘quiet’ Romelu Lukaku shadowed Didier Drogba in Chelsea training before becoming ‘ruthless’ striker

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      ROMELU LUKAKU was ‘quiet’ when he arrived at Chelsea to play with his idol Didier Drogba, but returns a decade later as a ‘ruthless’ finisher. That is insight from legendary left-back Ashley Cole, who remembers boyhood Blues fan Lukaku signing as a 17-year-old from Anderlecht in 2011. 
      Romelu Lukaku training with Didier Drogba in 2011Credit: Getty
      Ashley Cole speaking at the launch of Three’s new store in Kings RoadCredit: Karolina Krasuska
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      The Belgian striker looked up to Drogba on and off the pitch and would receive regular mentoring from the Stamford Bridge icon. Speaking at the launch of Three’s new store in Kings Road, Cole, 40, told SunSport: “He was quiet.
      “He came as a 17-year-old boy, with a huge amount of talent, raw talent at that, but someone always willing to listen, to the likes of Didier Drogba.
      “He was his idol, he looked up to Didier so I think it was very important for him to have the opportunity day to day to see how Didier works.
      “Didier worked with him a lot in terms of the individual movements, different shooting practices and gave him that little bit of mentality that was needed.” 
      Lukaku, now 28, spent four years at Chelsea but made only 15 appearances without scoring a goal and had loans with West Brom and Everton. 

      It left Blues fans still in the dark about the powerhouse’s ability, but behind the scenes Cole recognised the talent which Lukaku has later gone on to prove away from West London. 
      He said: “He was a boy, 17 years of age. Very difficult to nail down a position or place in Chelsea’s first team.
      “He had a lot of work to do but you could always see he was willing to do it and wanted to do it.
      “So already you see that mentality and you always knew if he got that opportunity he would take it, as I said, he was willing to graft on the training pitch.
      “And now he’s improved in certain aspects of his game and he’s developed into a ruthless striker, one of the top strikers in the world now.”
      “Didier worked with him a lot in terms of the individual movements, different shooting practices and gave him that little bit of mentality that was needed.” Ashley Cole on Romelu Lukaku and Didier Drogba
      In the years since leaving Chelsea permanently in 2014, Lukaku has shined at Everton, got himself a big money move to Manchester United before then joining Inter Milan in 2019. 
      And Lukaku appeared happy in Milan this summer, having last season helped them to a first Serie A title in 11 years. 
      But the opportunity to re-write history with the club he grew up supporting proved too hard to turn down for the Belgium international, who moved back to Chelsea for £97.5million. 
      ‘UNFINISHED BUSINESS’
      Cole said: “It’s always difficult, you talk about this was his boyhood club, I bet he would feel – even though he was a kid – that it didn’t go well. That’s why he’s come back with the unfinished business.
      “He would’ve been disappointed to leave the club at the start, but to come back with a name, a big personality, and knowing what he’s done in major tournaments, he’s contributed and scored goals, he’s worked and developed and he’s been playing with top, top players.
      “He comes back now and maybe with unfinished business, but no one can take away what he’s done already and hopefully he can come back and help Chelsea continue to win trophies.” 
      Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who won the Champions League only six months after replacing Cole’s former team-mate Frank Lampard, has been crying out for a lethal No9. 
      And Cole believes Lukaku has all the same qualities as Chelsea’s most prolific forward, Drogba, and offers the versatility that comes with it. 
      He explained: “When I was of course at Chelsea, you looked at the way Didier Drogba played, every movement in front of goal, he was deadly.
      “So we could play all types of football with him, we could go long he could hold it up, we could get crosses in.
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      “Talk about getting into wide areas and putting balls into the box, someone willing to attack the ball, in terms of that, I think Lukaku has every one of those traits.
      “With a very good manager, who has a very good style of play, and gets the team in good areas, hopefully he can free Lukaku to do what he’s been doing in the last ten years, and that’s scoring goals.
      “Chelsea’s all round game now, and ability to adapt and play a little bit longer, I think with Lukaku in the team I think that’s definitely helps.”
      Romelu Lukaku has re-joined Chelsea for £97.5m
      Ashely Cole at Three’s new store in Kings RoadCredit: Karolina Krasuska More

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      Arsenal plan to offer up Alexandre Lacazette as transfer bait to Roma to land Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham

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      ARSENAL plan to offer Alexandre Lacazette to Roma to clear the path for a move for Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, according to reports.Roma boss Jose Mourinho is a big fan of Abraham and it is believed a loan deal has been agreed between the two clubs.
      Abraham was an unused sub in Chelsea’s Super Cup win against Villarreal on WednesdayCredit: GETTY IMAGES
      Lacazette has been offered to Roma, hoping to steer the Serie A club away from AbrahamCredit: GETTY IMAGES
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      According to Calciomercato, the Rome-based club have agreed to pay a £4.2million loan fee with a £29.6m option to buy.
      However, Abraham would like to stay in the Premier League.
      And boyhood club Arsenal appears to be the forward’s favoured destination.
      West Ham as well as Atalanta and Southampton are also keen on Abraham.
      Chelsea would, however, prefer to sell abroad rather than strengthen a rival.
      The report states that Arsenal have offered Lacazette to Roma to take the Serie A club out of the running for Abraham – giving the Gunners a clear run.

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      But Roma have their hearts set on Abraham who might cost more, but is considerably younger and has lower wages than the Frenchman.
      Mourinho reportedly called the striker on Tuesday and was told that a decision would be made in the following 48 hours.
      Abraham was an unused substitute as Chelsea won the Uefa Super Cup on penalties against Villarreal in Belfast on Wednesday.
      And with Romelu Lukaku expected to complete a dramatic return to Chelsea at some point this week, Abraham’s game time will be limited.
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      Abraham has been frozen out of the first team under manager Thomas Tuchel, having been a regular starter under predecessor Frank Lampard.
      Tuchel this week said:m”He was clearly not happy with the last half a year and maybe he has reason also not to be happy and maybe it was also my fault not to push him, not to trust him on the same level I maybe trusted other players.
      “I can absolutely understand that he wants more minutes.
      “So the decision will be ‘how do we plan, what are Tammy’s plans, does he fight his way back into the team from the position where he ended last season or does he want to change club to have the chance of being a regular starter?'”
      Inter Milan plan on replacing Lukaku with an ageing Edin Dzeko from Roma.
      Once Lukaku completes his return to Chelsea, it could create a transfer domino effect.
      Abraham could then move to Roma, and then Roma sanction the transfer of Dzeko to Inter.

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      Miralem Pjanic close to sealing return to Juventus on loan from Barcelona after agreeing pay cut to complete transfer

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      MIRALEM PJANIC is reportedly set to become a Juventus player again with the midfielder on the verge of a loan move from Barcelona. It is thought the LaLiga ace – who was booed by Barca fans in a pre-season cup game – has accepted a wage reduction to seal a two-year return. 
      Miralem Pjanic is reportedly due to move back to Juventus as part of a temporary loan dealCredit: Getty
      This is despite the player arriving at the Nou Camp just a year ago as part of the £50.8million swap deal that saw Brazil ace Arthur Melo move to Turin. 
      Pjanic, who sealed a £45.8million July 2020 move to the Blaugrana, has fallen down the pecking order following Ronald Koeman’s arrival at the club in August last year. 
      He made just six first-team starts in 19 top-flight appearances for Barca, who play Real Sociedad in their first game of the new LaLiga season. 
      Spanish newspaper Sport claim the Bosnia & Herzegovina international has agreed to a 20 per cent pay cut to push through a Juve return.  
      It is suggested the move could be set up as a one-season loan with the addition of a clause that allows the Italian giants to extend the deal into the 2022-23 season. 
      Pjanic was an unused sub during Barca’s 3-0 defeat of Juve in the annual Joan Gamper Trophy clash between the sides on Sunday.   
      And the player, who spent four trophy-laden seasons at Juve following a 2016 move from Roma, was among the Barcelona aces jeered by the club’s fans at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. 
      Barca are thought to need to make savings of around £156million on wages, according to Catalan radio outlet RAC1. 
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      That has lead to the stunning departure of club icon Lionel Messi, who is closing in on a blockbuster move to Paris Saint-Germain.
      It is thought some supporters are angered that squad members have refused to leave despite reports of Barca offering to release them on free transfers to ease their salary bill. 
      Pjanic’s suitors Juventus are reported to have been using Aaron Ramsey and Danilo as their midfield shield in front of their back four. 
      It is claimed Max Allegri is looking to strengthen his central midfield options with the club set to face Atalanta in a friendly ahead of their season opener against Udinese.
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      Tammy Abraham ‘wants Arsenal transfer and has reservations over joining Roma despite £36m Chelsea deal in works’

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      TAMMY ABRAHAM is reportedly uncertain about a move from the Premier League to Serie A despite a Roma switch in the pipeline.And Italian football expert Alessandro Schiavone claims the Chelsea ace would prefer a transfer to Arsenal instead. 
      Reports in Italy claim Tammy Abraham would be open to an Arsenal despite a Roma deal in the worksCredit: Getty
      Abraham, 23, is heavily rumoured to be the target of a swoop by Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
      The Italian side is seeking an initial loan deal with a view to a permanent £33million transfer. 
      It is thought the Blues forward, who netted 12 goals in 32 games across all competitions last term, could find himself dropping down the Stamford Bridge pecking order with the impending rival of Romelu Lukaku. 
      And the London-born striker has been at the centre of a summer transfer tug-of-war with Roma, Atalanta and the Gunnersamong his suitors.  
      While the Blues star is open to the idea of an Emirates switch, pundits in Italy believe a move to Mourinho’s club is more likely.
      Schiavone told Football Daily: “Gianluca di Marco, the transfer guru, confirmed that the deal is done between Roma and Chelsea. 
      “He (Abraham) will join on an initial £5milion loan with a view to making it permanent for £35million next year, but that’s with an obligation to buy. 
      “But the rumours are that he has reservations about leaving England, about moving to Italy, about joining Roma.
      “This is because many times in the past we have seen a manager who wanted a player and then that manager was gone and the player is still there. 
      “This is like James Rodriguez at Everton, he joined because of (Carlo) Ancelotti. 
      “Mourinho has a track record of not always staying for more than two to three years at a club, so maybe Abrahams is really weighing things up. 
      “I also know for a fact that if the possibility is there he would prefer to join Arsenal. 
      “But I think in the end Mourinho will persuade him with his amazing powers of persuasion because with Mourinho we know if he wants a player, he calls him. 
      “I think 99 per cent, the deal will go through.”
      Abraham was part of Chelsea’s youth side during Mourinho’s two-year second spell with the Blues from 2013 to 2015. 
      And the player made his senior debut for the club under interim boss Guus Hiddink helping Chelsea secure a 1-1 draw in the Prem against Liverpool in May 2016.
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      In 2019 he broke into the London side’s first team under former gaffer Frank Lampard. 
      And the striker started 25 times in the Prem under Lampard in the 2019-2020 season
      But the talented forward has made just 12 starts under current boss Thomas Tuchel in the league last term. 
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      Rio Ferdinand predicts Chelsea new boy Romelu Lukaku will score 20 goals this season – and want to down old club Man Utd

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      RIO FERDINAND has backed Romelu Lukaku to score at least 20 goals this season as Chelsea edge closer to announcing his arrival.The 28-year-old is poised to return to Stamford Bridge seven years after being sold to Everton after the Blues agreed a £97.5million deal with Inter Milan.
      Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Romelu Lukaku from Inter MilanCredit: AFP
      Rio Ferdinand believes Lukaku has a point to prove when he returns to the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
      He has already undergone his medical in Italy ahead of his switch back to the Premier League.
      All that is now left is for the Champions League holders to announce his signing after paperwork was completed in Monaco.
      And Manchester United legend Ferdinand believes the Belgium international will be an instant success in his second spell at Chelsea.
      He has even claimed that Lukaku will be looking to down the Red Devils after they sold him to Inter in 2019 after deeming him as not good enough.
      Speaking about the player on his YouTube channel FIVE, he said: “I’ve spoken to him recently and he’s hungry man.
      “He hasn’t confirmed to me that he’s signing for Chelsea but he just said this season, he’s hungry.
      “I just think this guy, a lot of greatness comes through having fuel and what I mean by that is having doubters and wanting to prove them wrong.
      “He’s got a whole stadium full at Manchester United who doubted him, all the fan base at Old Trafford doubted him.
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      “A lot of people weren’t too dissatisfied when he left.
       “He will be sitting there and looking in the diary to see when that Old Trafford game is and he will want to unload.
      “Romelu Lukaku guarantees you 20 goals, minimum. He guarantees you that.
      “He’s scored goals wherever he’s been, he’s an elite goalscorer, it’s as simple as that.”
      Lukaku has banged in 64 goals in 95 games in Italy in the last two years, including 24 top-flight strikes last term that secured Inter’s first Serie A title since 2010.
      And he will now be looking to score his first goal for Chelsea having drawn a blank from his 15 games between 2011-2014.
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      Romelu Lukaku spotted ‘holding Chelsea shirt’ as Inter Milan striker has medical with no issues ahead of £97.5m transfer More

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      Christian Eriksen sends touching message to nine-year-old girl undergoing heart operation after cardiac arrest hell

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      CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN has sent a nine-year-old girl a touching message ahead of her operation that will see her fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator device.The Inter Milan playmaker has himself been fitted with an ICD device following his cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 clash against Finland in June.
      Christian Eriksen sent a young child a video message after learning she will be having a heart operation
      English child Evie requires an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator device after being diagnosed with a rare heart condition
      Eriksen, 29, is now said to be in ‘excellent physical condition’ after returning to Italy as he continues his recovery.
      And the ex-Tottenham star has now assured young English child Evie that she will get back to normal life very quickly in a clip he sent his huge fan.
      Evie’s family sent Eriksen a letter explaining she also needs to have a pacemaker having been diagnosed with a rare heart condition.
      Their efforts proved fruitless, but Eriksen soon replied after Denmark native Kasper Lynge Esmann contacted the Danish FA.
      In a video message which has been shared on Facebook, Eriksen said: “‘Hi Evie, it’s Christian. Thanks for the lovely letter, I just read it through tonight.
      “I hope you are feeling comfortable and confident going into the operation. 
      “It’s never fun to be in hospital, but I’m sure the doctors know what they are doing and they will help you.
      “I’m sure you will get back to normal life very quickly afterwards, I know I did. I’m sure it’ll be the same with you.

      Christian Eriksen’s life was saved by the fast reactions of team-mates and medics
      “I just wanted to wish you all the best and hopefully maybe we’ll see each other in the future.”
      Evie’s mother Nicci was lost for words over his message, as she wrote on social media: “We’re all overwhelmed by the amount of shares and comments of support from our family, friends and complete strangers!
      “The post was shared nearly 500 times and reached a lovely man in Denmark, named Kasper, who helped to get this message to us.
      “What an amazing man you are Christian Eriksen, thank you so much for fulfilling Evie’s wish. Kindness is everything. Thank you everyone.”
      It remains unclear whether Eriksen will be able to continue his playing career after being told he must have his ICD removed.
      Commenting on the situation, the director of the Italian FA’s technical-scientific committee Franco Braconaro said: “Right now Eriksen could not be eligible to play.
      “If the player’s ICD is removed because the pathology has been resolved, he can return to Inter.”
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      Sassuolo confirm ex-West Ham star Pedro Obiang is suffering from lung disease and is not medically cleared for training

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      PEDRO OBIANG’S Sassuolo stint has hit a stumbling block with the midfielder unable to train due to a breathing disorder. The former West Ham player, 29, is reportedly contending with bronchopulmonary problems, according to Football Italia.
      Pedro Obiang is reportedly out of action for Sassuolo due to lung problemsCredit: EPA
      It is thought the Equatorial Guinea international had his symptoms diagnosed following tests at a hospital in Italy’s Modena province. 
      Reports in Italy claim lung problems affecting the former Irons ace have been identified as a viral condition by doctors. 
      And the midfielder is thought to be prohibited from playing for or training for the club who will play Verona in their first game of the Serie A season on August 21. 
      And this comes days on from his club team-mate Gregoire Defrel testing positive for COVID-19.   
      Obiang made 116 Hammers appearances, netting three goals across all competitions, before sealing a £6.1million switch to Sassuolo in July 2019.
      And the former Prem player spent four seasons with the Irons following a 2015 move from Sampdoria before a return to Serie A. 
      The rise of Declan Rice led to Obiang dropping down the club’s pecking order 
      The player came on as a substitute in 12 of the 24 Prem games he played for the Irons across all competitions in his final season with the side. 
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      Obiang’s contract with the Black and Greens currently runs until June 2023. 
      And the midfielder made 33 appearances in Italy’s top-flight last term for the side who finished eighth in Serie A. 
      The Spain-born player also netted three goals in 11 appearances for Equatorial Guinea since making his international debut for the side in March 2019. 
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