Chelsea made the ideal striker signing in Alvaro Morata instead of Romelu Lukaku, according to former Manchester United defender Danny Higginbotham.
The Belgium international was targeted by both clubs this summer and initially looked set for a move to Stamford Bridge before choosing Old Trafford instead.
Lukaku has since shone for United, scoring three goals in his opening three Premier League games for the Red Devils.
Higginbotham, who started his career with United before going to represent the likes of Southampton and Stoke in the Premier League, believes he is a far better fit for Jose Mourinho’s side than Antonio Conte’s.
Writing in his column for The Sun, Higginbotham explained that Lukaku joining Chelsea would have meant a major overhaul of Conte’s tactics that won the title last term, while Morata is a more like-for-like replacement for Diego Costa.
‘Great players go to great clubs – but it does not always necessarily mean they will be a great success. They need to fit the team’s system,’ the former defender said.
‘When Romelu Lukaku was clearly leaving Everton, it was suggested Chelsea were interested.
‘But that move made no sense because they would have had to completely change their style of play.
‘Diego Costa occupied the centre-half and dropped deep, creating space in behind for Pedro, Hazard or Willian, or the wing-backs getting round the back.
‘Lukaku plays on the shoulder of the last defender and pushes defences back.
‘It would have been an utter change of identity for Chelsea. If it ain’t broke and all that . . . and they had won the title after all.
‘Alvaro Morata is more like Costa in that he tends to drop deep.’
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