Chelsea have twice stopped Tottenham signing incredible £94m striker
Chelsea have twice prevented Tottenham from signing goal-machine striker.
Due to Chelsea’s own transfer transactions, the Blues have twice stopped rivals Tottenham Hotspur from acquiring goal machine Lautaro Martinez. Martinez, who is currently having a fantastic season with Inter Milan and is regarded as one of the best attackers in European football, could have been starting for Spurs if things had gone differently.
It centers on Chelsea’s relationship—or occasionally lack thereof—with Romelu Lukaku, who joined Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2021 after signing a £97.5 million contract with Inter Milan. Despite being viewed as the crucial component of manager Thomas Tuchel’s team at the time, Lukaku was unable to have the necessary effect at Stamford Bridge, scoring just 15 goals in 44 games during the season.
That summer, Martinez was the Inter striker that Spurs themselves were trying to get somewhere in the capital. The previous season, Martinez and Lukaku had led the Milan-based team to the Serie A title; Tottenham was apparently prepared to pay £60 million for the Argentine’s services.
Romelu Lukaku’s move to Chelsea could’ve prevented Spurs from signing Lautaro Martinez. (Image: Getty)
Of course, it’s a move that didn’t transpire, as Inter were only willing to let one of their strikers leave that summer, with the San Siro team giving the more profitable deal priority. Two summers later, though, Martinez was still the target of Tottenham’s interest, but Chelsea’s transfer activity once more thwarted any possible trade.
Martinez, who Transfermarkt values at £94 million, was being considered by Spurs in the summer of 2023, maybe ahead of a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This time, however, things were different for Spurs since their lucky man, Harry Kane, was free to depart during that same window, signing a £100 million contract to join Bayern Munich.
