Wolfsburg confirm interest in Romelu Lukaku

VfL Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs has confirmed the club’s interest in signing Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku this summer.

Lukaku, 21, tallied 15 goals and six assists in 33 English Premier League appearances while on loan at Everton last term and has already hinted he may leave Stamford Bridge when the transfer window re-opens on 1 July.

“You know Chelsea, every year they buy a new top striker,” Lukaku said, per ESPN FC. “I remember coming into the dressing room last year and seeing Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba and going, ‘Woah! What’s happening here?’

“But no problem. Many clubs are interested in me. At this stage, I have to look to myself. I have to play a good World Cup. That’s very interesting for all the players looking for a transfer. And I must be one of them.

“Chelsea know my point of view.”

According to reports, Chelsea are willing to offload the highly-rated Belgium international, if the price is right.

Lukaku — who joined the Blues from Jupiler Pro League side for an initial fee of €12 million, rising to €20 million with add-ons, in August 2011 — is rated at around £25 million.

Wolfsburg want the player but the current price is too expensive for the Bundesliga’s 2013/14 fifth-placed finishers.

“If the player is getting cheaper, maybe this affair is picking up pace. But even then we won’t be the only club chasing the player’s signature,” Allofs told kicker-Sportmagazin.

“Actually we are looking at top-class strikers and we do not have any pressure. We are patiently waiting for the right moment.

“There will be some movement in all of this after FIFA World Cup tournament.”

Meanwhile, Wolfsburg have been linked with free agent striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga, who bagged 13 goals in 20 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburg last term, and Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata.

The latter [Morata] has been the subject of interest from Arsenal since a failed loan attempt to lure the Spaniard to North London during the January transfer window.

It is now believed Morata will leave Real Madrid in favour of regular first-team football but reports in Italy have claimed Juventus is his preferred destination.

Nonetheless, the Gunners’ starting striker Olivier Giroud has revealed the club will add another top-class centre-forward this summer, and understandably so.

“I can tell you Arsenal will add a striker to the team,” Giroud said.

“We need another striker. Great clubs have several good strikers, who compete with each other.”