Those reports in Belgium, that the Chelseamanager had been in regular contact with the Everton forward over recent weeks detailing his tactics for next season and making plain just how key he considered Lukaku to his game-plan, have never been contested. The player himself expected to return to south-west London. The manager anticipated welcoming him back into the fold.
Is this not what we did with van dijk? Or did they have permission to talk to him?