REPORT: Chelsea to swap Ross Barkley for Romelu Lukaku this summer?

According to a report at the weekend, Chelsea have identified the man they see as Frank Lampard's replacement at the club - Ross Barkley. The same report indicates that a swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku could come to fruition this summer.

This report featured in The Mirror states that Jose Mourinho sees Barkley as the successor to Lampard within his squad and I just wonder if that IS actually the case. As we know Frank Lampard in his prime was a box-to-box midfielder and I don't see Barkley as that type of player. He is more of a focal point in midfield, someone to look to create and craft rather than get on the end of things.

Barkley is way off being the finished product but has already impressed and made an impact this season. Without question Barkley has talent as we have already seen and has flourished under the guidance this season of Roberto Martinez. So too has Romelu Lukaku and it's believed that the manager is more than interested in keeping the Belgian at Everton next season and beyond.

I personally see Marko Van Ginkel has more of the natural replacement for Lampard than Barkley. If anything the Dutchman is more of an all round midfielder than Barkley and would be more comfortable playing from the deeper position on the pitch with Barkley favouring playing further forward, similar to that of Oscar at the moment.

With reports like these, it's important to remember that newspapers need to sell copy and this report could be complete fabrication. There could be little or no substance at all. What if there actually is though? Would you agree with the fact that we would let Lukaku go?

This whole Lukaku situation (as I have posted before) is a confusing one with no one being able to confirm 100% the plans for him at Chelsea. Rumours of a big fall out with Jose Mourinho still persist and looking from the outside in, you would have to admit it could be difficult for these two to patch up their differences. For Mourinho to call for Lukaku to state why he was sent out on loan to Everton indicates things are not exactly ideal.

If anything, Chelsea's defeat at Crystal Palace at the weekend indicates to me that we need a "Plan B" as time and time again this season, for one reason or another, we have dropped points. Romelu Lukaku is that other option!

I am aware that playing Lukaku in our team as it is right now would be a change of approach or change of style and that's a good thing in my opinion. Teams know what to expect from Chelsea under Mourinho and the type of football we are looking to play. They know that they can drop back and defend deep in numbers because we are looking to play through them.

Chelsea right now will not play a long ball up to someone to either win the ball and hold it up or flick it on. Back to the days of old with Didier Drogba, we had an option to mix things up and if one style of play wasn't working, we could switch to try a different approach. The big Belgian would give Mourinho that option.

Ross Barkley is definitely a star in the making and Romelu Lukaku could quite literally be as good as he wants to be. If this swap deal has substance and IS on the cards, would both sets of supporters be happy with the outcome or would you feel as though one has got the better of the deal?

What do you people think?