Everton
host Chelsea live on Sky Sports this Sunday with both clubs' frontmen
potentially leaving in the summer - but could Romelu Lukaku return to
Stamford Bridge if Diego Costa departs?
Costa was reportedly seeking a lucrative move to China earlier this season,
while the Sunday Supplement panel last month agreed Lukaku will likely leave
Goodison Park in the next window.
Despite those rumours and a recent five-game goal drought, Costa got back on
track with a brace during Chelsea's 4-2 win over Southampton on Tuesday to
take his Premier League tally to 19 goals. Meanwhile, Lukaku has already
netted a league-high 24 goals for Everton.
But nearly four years after joining the Toffees on loan and three years
since making the move permanent, could the former Chelsea employee make a
blockbuster move back to Stamford Bridge? Could he spearhead the London club
if Costa heads to Asia? We look at the stats…
HOW THEY COMPARE
Lukaku has surpassed the Brazilian-born Spain striker across a raft of
attacking stats this season.
Lukaku has scored more goals, finished off more big chances, created more
chances, converted more shots, had more shots on target and completed more
dribbles than Costa per 90 minutes.
POSITIONING & INTERPLAY
This season, Lukaku has scored 11 with his favoured left foot and Costa has
netted 12 with his preferred right.
As a result, the graphic above shows how Lukaku tends to operate down the
right side of the pitch and in a slightly deeper role, while Costa typically
plays more centrally or on the left.
In fact, Lukaku's average position has rarely changed this season - on the
right side of the centre circle.
The graphic below shows how Costa tends to average in the left-of-centre
region, in between the opposition's penalty area and the centre circle,
where he can link up with the Blues' top creator Eden Hazard, although he
typically drops deeper when playing tougher opposition.
Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic have both teed up Costa most with three
assists, while Kevin Mirallas and Yannick Bolasie have each provided Lukaku
with four goals - despite the latter being sidelined with a knee injury
since December last year.
RUNNING
Costa covers marginally more distance per 90 minutes, running 9.46km per
game on average compared to 8.88km for Lukaku, but the Chelsea man's average
of 61 sprints per game is considerably higher than Lukaku's 45.
Both players have hit a similar top speed this season, although Lukaku just
has the edge with his 35km/h top speed compared to Costa's 34km/h.
AERIAL & PHYSICAL POWER
Both players measure around 6ft 2in, but Lukaku is more of an aerial threat,
scoring six headed goals in the Premier League this season compared to
Costa's two - despite the Toffees only completing 30 more crosses.
Chelsea have only scored seven headers this season from 119 successful
crosses and two of those goals came against the Saints on Tuesday.
The Belgian would boost aerial options for Blues boss Antonio Conte and
could also provide assists with his prowess in the air, having won 124
aerials this season compared to Costa's 42.
In terms of discipline, Costa has picked up eight yellow cards this season -
five more than Lukaku - despite attempting 522 duels to the Belgian's 541.
So Lukaku matches Costa in the challenge but is less likely to be
reprimanded.
FAMILIARITY
Lukaku's Premier League record proves he is capable of filling Costa's boots
if the Chelsea striker joins former team-mates Oscar and Ramires in the
Chinese Super League.
In addition, Everton boss Ronald Koeman is also an advocate of the
three-at-the-back formation, which is likely to remain the default at
Stamford Bridge next season.
Conte is unlikely to promote back-up striker Michy Batshuayi, who is
currently the most expensive player at Stamford Bridge after signing for
£33.2m from Marseille in July last year.
Batshuayi has not started one league game this season and has only
accumulated 113 minutes from 17 substitute appearances.
Lukaku would also be in familiar surroundings at his former club and which
other world-class strikers, proven in the Premier League, would be available
this summer?
Those options appear to be limited to, potentially, Arsenal's Alexis
Sanchez, Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, Swansea's Fernando Llorente and
Lukaku.
The Belgian tops the Premier League goal-scoring chart - despite being at a
club 20 points adrift of the league leaders.
He could also become the first Everton player to win the Golden Boot since
Gary Linker's 30 goals in 1986/87. Lukaku has staked his claim.
top