Wenger admits he tried to buy Premier League goal machine

Arsene Wenger has revealed he tried to bring Romelu Lukaku to Arsenal before he eventually joined Chelsea.

Lukaku, 20, failed to make any real impression at Stamford Bridge and was farmed out on loan to West Brom and Everton before the Toffees made the deal permanent in 2014.

The Belgium international has been in sparkling form in front of goal for Everton this season and is running Jamie Vardy all the way for the Golden Boot, however his career could have panned out differently had he accepted Arsenal’s advances.

“We knew him from Belgium, but he went to Chelsea,” Wenger is quoted as saying by The Daily Mail. “He’s developing well. Year after year he’s better.

“His finishing is better, technical link up play is better. He is promising a big career. It’s always a sign when the numbers are better year after year.

“He went out on loan to Everton and I did not expect him to go back to Chelsea. After that, we were never on the case.”

In fact, his goal exploits have been so impressive that since August 2013 only Sergio Aguero (59) has scored more goals than Lukaku (43) in the Premier League.

For more stats on Romelu Lukaku, click here to visit his WhoScored player page