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Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Lukaku ‘will snub Chelsea’, Man Utd ‘to extend Fellaini contract’

So after all that, it turns out Romelu Lukaku is going to stay at Everton.

By “all that”, we mean - in no particular order - Lukaku refusing to commit his future to the Toffees, Chelsea being repeatedly linked with bids ranging from £40m to £75m for the Belgian, Lukaku saying he had “unfinished business” at Stamford Bridge, Diego Costa being targeted by Atletico Madrid all summer, Lukaku saying he wanted Champions League football and Lukaku saying he already “knew” the identity of his next club.

There were also reports, most of them drowned out, that Chelsea had not actually made a bid for Lukaku at all. Maybe that’s the only one we should have listened to.

The Mirror reports that Lukaku has told Everton manager Ronald Koeman he will “ignore overtures from Chelsea” and stay at Goodison Park. Which sounds very nice of him, but it’s very easy to snub a team that hasn’t actually made you an offer.

Chelsea, remember, already spent £30m on Lukaku’s international team-mate Michy Batshuayi, while it doesn’t looks as if Costa is leaving anytime soon.

The Blues don’t need Lukaku - and it appears there is no one else eager to spend the kind of sums that have been attached to the sometimes cumbersome striker’s head. Not that Everton will complain. It means they won’t have to put Oumar Niasse up front.

In far more spectacular Belgium-related news, have you noticed how much Jose Mourinho LOVES Marouane Fellaini? #

The Sun has, and they reveal that the once-pilloried midfielder is set to be offered a two-year contract extension by the Special One. We can’t imagine Jose forewarned United chiefs about that cunning plan we he wrote them that letter last season.

Jonny Evans’ proposed move to Arsenal appears to have moved a step closer after West Brom boss Tony Pulis said he didn’t want to sell the defender but admitted, “You sometimes have to sell your best players” (ESPN). And we don’t think he was talking about Rickie Lambert.

Pep Guardiola continues to pursue sexy youngsters, with the Mirror reporting that Manchester City are set to seal a £10m deal for 19-year-old Croatian midfielder Ante Coric.

Elsewhere, Arsene Wenger has given up on his long-running Joel Campbell project and agreed to loan the forward to Sporting Lisbon (Express), Aston Villa have denied that Joleon Lescott’s move to Rangers fell through because he failed a medical (also Express) and the aforementioned Tony Pulis is so desperate to sign Jeffrey Schlupp from Leicester that it’s starting to get awkward (Birmingham Mail). It’s only Jeff Schlupp, Tony. Move on, mate!

@darlingkevin