Chelsea to revive transfer interest in Everton's Romelu Lukaku if Diego Costa goes this summer

Alexis Sanchez and Alvaro Morata are also potential targets for the league leaders but their star striker looks to be going nowhere in the January window

Chelsea fancied Lukaku (inset) to replace Costa last year but both stayed put (Photo: Chelsea FC via Getty/AMA/Getty)
Romelu Lukaku is on the short-list to replace Diego Costa if the Chelsea star continues to push for a move this summer.
Striker Costa was brought back into the first-team fold on Tuesday, after training alone for several days following a bust-up with boss, Antonio Conte.
But Tianjin Quanjian, the Chinese Super League club trying to sign the Spain international, claim the Blues' owner, Roman Abramovich has told them he will only do business at the end of the season.
Tianjin owner, Shu Yuhul confirmed he met Costa’s agent, Jorge Mendes — and had also targeted Paris Saint-Germain’s Edison Cavani, Karim Benzema of Real Madrid and Monaco’s Chelsea old-boy, Radamel Falcao.
“I made an appointment with Mendes, and he came to my hometown to visit me,” said Shu. “At that time, we were interested in signing Costa.
“PSG told us Cavani would only be allowed to leave in June, even though the player himself was willing to join us.
“The same can be said for Costa, because Chelsea would only let him leave in June. However, the new season of CSL will almost reach the halfway stage in June.
"We can’t wait so long.”
Though Costa is now available for a recall against Hull on Sunday, the league leaders may decide to off-load the Brazil-born 28-year-old in the summer — when potential replacements also include Arsenal star, Alexis Sanchez.
Chelsea are tracking his contract stand-off and will move for the Chile international- set to have just a year left on his current deal, come the summer - if he makes it clear he does not intend to sign a new deal with the Gunners.
The West Londoners' interest in Lukaku last summer was rejected by Everton but they have also yet to tie down the Belgium international — who is keen on a return to Chelsea, his first English club — down to a new deal.
Lukaku, still just 23, has scored 18 goals in 25 appearances for club and country this season. His agent, Mino Raiola, has refused to rule out a summer exit, even if he signs a new contract before then.
Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata, a striker Chelsea made unsuccessful bids for in the last window, is also on the Stamford Bridge short-list.