Do Chelsea
stick or twist? Do they go with what they have on the books, or do they
trade in one Belgian forward for his international companion? Or will
they reunite the two youngsters at club level? Chelsea are apparently among the clubs circling Christian Benteke after he requested a transfer from Aston Villa, but why would they want Benteke when Romelu Lukaku is returning from his loan period at West Bromwich Albion?
If it comes down to a straight choice between them who should Chelsea
opt for? We profile both men in the latest of our transfer battle
series.

CHRISTIAN BENTEKE

Date of birth: 3 December, 1990

Place of birth: Kinshasa, Zaire

Nationality: Belgian

Height: 1.90m

Position: Forward

Current club: Aston Villa

Former clubs: Genk, Standard Liege, Kortrijk, Mechelen

Value: £25m

Benteke arrived at Aston Villa from Genk for around £7 million last
August, but clearly does not fancy another season trying to avoid
relegation with Paul Lambert's
side. Before moving to England, enjoyed a fabulous record of averaging
better than a goal every other game in Belgium over three seasons.

What would he would bring to Chelsea?

With Edinson Cavani apparently edging towards a move to Paris Saint-Germain, a move for Benteke appears to make sense.
Scored
19 goals for Villa last season to prove his value at the elite level in
England. Would certainly fit the bill as the target man Jose Mourinho
is keen to land with some reports claiming Fernando Torres and Demba Ba
will be sold during this transfer window.

What they say about him:

"You look at some of his
performances and he's been unplayable at certain times. It's about doing
it next year and then the next year and then the next year and then you
can say he's arrived. But he's only a young boy who's learning his
trade. He's only 22 years old. I think if you asked him he would tell
you he's got so much to learn. Once he does it year after year after
year then we can turn around and say we have a proper player." Aston
Villa manager Paul Lambert.

ROMELU LUKAKU

Date of birth: 13 May, 1993

Place of birth: Antwerp, Belgium

Nationality: Belgian

Height: 1.91m

Position: Striker

Current club: Chelsea

Former clubs: Anderlecht, West Bromwich Albion

Value: £20m

Lukaku has been promised a chance to prove himself at Chelsea. Not
that he needs to prove much about his prowess after rising to prominence
in European football at the age of 20.

He finished the 2009/10 season as the Belgian league's top scorer
with 15 goals from 33 outings despite spending much of the time as a
substitute. Became the third youngest goalscorer in European club
tournaments when he scored in the Europa League against Ajax at the age
of 16. Chelsea paid £20 million for him from Anderlecht two years ago,
but he needs time on the pitch under Mourinho.

What would he bring to Chelsea?

A figure of real
power and pace, Lukaku is tall and powerful. Has great awareness in his
position, and is not afraid to finish. The question is: will he be
allowed to develop at Chelsea? Scored 17 goals last season so is an
obvious choice for Jose Mourinho to turn to.

What they say about him?

"Romelu is probably one of
the biggest talents in Europe at the moment. We are very lucky with him,
being a very young striker, and Christian Benteke
(Aston Villa's Belgium frontman, who was also nominated for the PFA
Young Player of the Year award). We have two unbelievable talents coming
through. I am looking forward to playing against him. He will be a
world beater in England very soon." Vincent Kompany, Manchester City and Belgium captain.

Yay! It came out Ok.

Lukaku over Benteke any day.

Vendetta will love this post. lol :))

ok you were faster than me haha :))

Haha :)

I still don't understand how a striker who's only 22 years old and has only had one or two good seasons in Europe's top flight can be worth 25 Mil Pounds. O.o

It seems to be as if he's over-priced.

^I agree @Dynastian. The valuation for players makes no sense these days. Potential is valued far too highly in terms of hard cash. It's a massive gamble. Before if a player was in his prime (even if he was older) he was valued highest. Now, even if a kid isn't fit to lace the shoes of the aforementioned player but has potential & is young, he is more expensive.

Makes little sense from a football perspective. The only sense it makes is from a theoretical economic model. lubs will buy younger, less prepared players with the hope that they can develop them and sell them on for much more. Selling clubs have caught onto this and have reacted by spiking up the price of the young player. Now, when clubs buy raw players over the odds, they are taking a real gamble.

In other words, the focus of football trasnfer is largely shifting from on field success, to off-field profit. Transfers have gone from being about buying the best players to increase your team's chances of winning something, to taking gambles with younger players in the hope that they will win you more money.

Only in football can someone with the class of RVP be valued near the same as Benteke FFS. In no other facet of life would you see a David Villa sold for €5m while Fernandinho is sold for €40m.

They both did a great season, and I like them both, but I've a little preference for Benteke, he's less powerful but way more fast than Lukaku, but I have to admit that Lukaku progressed a lot the last season. Now, I think we don't need Benteke at Chelsea, and it would probably be better for him to move to another EPL club or maybe in Germany.
@Dynastian, you're right they're both overpriced, as every talented and promising young players these days.

Lukaku all that