To Chelsea fans, Romelu Lukaku’s hat-trick for Everton against Sunderland only meant one thing – their club had made a terrible mistake by not re-signing the striker this summer.
It was Jose Mourinho who originally allowed the Belgian to leave and didn’t even include a buy-back clause, because he was so sure Chelsea would never want him back.
Just as with Paul Pogba at Manchester United, that decision looks rather silly now, and Antonio Conte spent much of the summer offering Everton over £60million to bring him back to Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku hit his first Premier League goals in six months in the 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light, completing an 11-minute hat-trick.
However, this isn’t as bad news for Chelsea as it might appear. Diego Costa’s resurgence has left little room for another physical striker, particularly as the Spaniard is most effective as a lone forward.
Michy Batshuayi also came in for almost half what Lukaku would have cost. At Arsenal, the failure to sign a proven Premier League striker is showing, but at Chelsea, it’s not.
Conte’s side are still unbeaten, albeit four games in, and things are going largely to plan, bar the 2-2 draw at Swansea which they really should have won.
It might be frustrating to watch Lukaku’s brilliance for Everton, but it’s not going to be season-shattering that they didn’t sign him. And if Batshuayi continues his fine form, they’ll soon forget all about his compatriot on Merseyside.
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