Lukaku joins WBA on loan

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has completed a season-long loan move to West Brom.The Baggies won the race for the 19-year-old Belgium star, who had been linked with a number of clubs, including Fulham. Lukaku, who joined Chelsea for £18million last summer, will work under former Blues assistant manager Steve Clarke.Boyhood Chelsea fan Lukaku struggled to break into the first-team squad at Stamford Bridge last season and was prevented from being loaned out under FIFA rules, having already played for Anderlecht.Clarke, who was appointed to his first managerial post this summer, told his club's official website, www.wba.co.uk: "I'm delighted to welcome Romelu to the club. He's a strong, powerful centre-forward who is young, enthusiastic and eager to learn. He was also desperate to come here."Romelu had a lot of Europe's top clubs chasing him when he joined Chelsea from Anderlecht for big money a year ago and also had several Premier League teams wanting to take him on loan this summer, so we've done well to get him."With the calibre of strikers Chelsea have got, he's found it difficult to break into the first team at Stamford Bridge. But he's had a season working at a top Premier League club and he now needs more minutes on the pitch. We're more than happy for Romelu to continue his development with us. I am sure he will be a big help to the squad over the course of the season."

Lukaku Plays Waiting Game

Romelu Lukaku says he is content to play the waiting game at Chelsea as he looks to get more first team opportunities. The 18-year-old is one of the most highly rated young strikers in Europe after impressing for Anderlecht and the Belgian national side, causing a huge number of clubs to take an interest in the summer. Chelsea eventually beat off competition from the likes of Real Madrid and Inter Milan but Andre Villas-Boas has yet to really release him on the Premier League. With Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kaolu all vying for a spot Lukaku has plenty of competition. But the Belguim international says he is happy to play the waiting game and just hopes his hard work in training will see him given his chance one day. "I work hard at Chelsea," said Lukaku "You have to sometimes set the bar a little higher. "Every young player wants to player, but it is important to be patient. "The coach is pleased with me. It is already important to me to be in the 18 every week."

Stoke fail in Lukaku loan bid

Stoke have failed in an attempt to sign new Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku on loan due to Premier League rules. The move fell foul of the rule-book, which forbids a player being lent to another top-flight side during the same transfer window that he joined his parent club. But it is also unclear whether Chelsea or Lukaku would have been open to a loan move, with the 18-year-old specifically saying before joining his boyhood idols that he did not want to be farmed out. Premier League Rule M.7.1 reads: "A Temporary Transfer to a Club may not take place in the Transfer Window in which the Transferor Club acquired the Player's registration." Lukaku completed his protracted move from Anderlecht to Chelsea almost two weeks ago for a fee that could reportedly rise to £20million. He made his Blues debut as a substitute in Saturday's 3-1 win over Norwich, although he faces a fight for a starting spot at Stamford Bridge, with Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda, Daniel Sturridge and Salomon Kalou among Andre Villas-Boas' other striking options.

Chelsea eye Pepe move

Reports in Spain claim Real Madrid defender Pepe is on Andre Villas-Boas' shopping list.The Chelsea boss is being linked with plenty of new talent in his first week at the club with a centre-half thought to be high up his list, and Madrid daily 'Marca' is reporting that the Portuguese centre-half is on his radar.Pepe has been at the Bernabeu since 2007 and has featured regularly for the club since his arrival. Chelsea are said to be preparing a lucrative €5m-per-season deal to make the move.Gary Cahill and Inter Milan's Lucio are also being linked with a move to Stamford bridge, while Anderlecht have indicated that the Blues are still interested in their wonderkid Romelu Lukaku.The Belgian club's director of football Herman van Holsbeeck has denied reports that Villas-Boas is not as keen on the striker -- who has been likened to Didier Drogba -- as his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti.But he says that Roman Abramovich will need to loosen his purse strings considerably in order to land the striker.

"People say the new Chelsea manager doesn't want Lukaku -- but they have different information to me," Van Holsbeeck said. "But we will only sell him if it is good for both ourselves and the player. We are asking serious money for him."

Anderlecht in talks with Chelsea over Lukaku Move

Anderlecht have confirmed that they have entered into negotiations with Chelsea concerning a potential move for their young striker Romelu Lukaku.The 18-year-old put in strong performances during the course of last season, scoring 20 goals for his club in the process. He has already made nine appearances for the Belgium national side, scoring two goals.The teenager had for some time been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, and now the Belgian outfit's general manager, Herman van Holsbeeck, has admitted that talks are under way with the London-based club.However, he insists that Chelsea are not the only club that Anderlecht are currently talking to concerning a potential move for Lukaku."There is still a long way to go in the negotiations. We are indeed negotiating with Chelsea, but there are other clubs we are talking to," Van Holsbeeck told Sky Sports.The general manager of the Belgian club also refused to reveal precisely when the two clubs might come to an agreement, and said: "It could happen in the next half hour, it could take until August 31 - that is football