Everton actually tried to sign a different Chelsea striker before being offered Romelu Lukaku in 2013

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Everton are back in Premier League action this weekend as they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

David Moyes’ side defeated Nottingham Forest 3-0 last weekend, so they’re full of confidence heading into this one.

Everton can actually move past fifth-placed Chelsea with another win, and that would put them in and around the Champions League spots.

Are you expecting Everton to make it five wins from six on Saturday? 🤩

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Tyler Dibling could get some minutes against Enzo Maresca’s side, as he will have to get up to speed before Iliman Ndiaye departs for AFCON.

Ahead of the clash, we’ve decided to revisit a very interesting transfer tale between these two clubs, involving Romelu Lukaku.

• READ MORE: Ashley Cole claims Everton had the best ‘big moment’ player in Premier League history

Everton wanted Chelsea striker Demba Ba before Romelu Lukaku

According to the Mirror, Everton manager Roberto Martinez phoned up Chelsea on the final day of the transfer window in 2013, hoping to sign a striker on loan.

Martinez initially asked about Demba Ba’s availability, as David Moyes had made him a target before he left for Manchester United.

The Toffees learned that Demba Ba was allowed to leave, but they were facing stiff competition from Arsenal.

For whatever reason, Chelsea blocked that potential transfer and instead decided to offer Lukaku, who had just netted 17 goals on loan at West Bromwich Albion.

Everton proposed the best terms for Lukaku, and the deal was able to go through before the window slammed shut.

“It only came up about 3 o’clock on the final day. Fortunately, everybody was able to push it through in a hurry,” a source close to Martinez revealed.

Romelu Lukaku’s impressive record at Everton

Lukaku ended up being a brilliant signing for Everton, as he netted 15 Premier League goals in his first season with the Merseysiders.

That prompted the club to fork out a club-record £28m to sign the then 21-year-old on a permanent transfer.

He went on to score 87 goals in 166 games for Everton before being sold to Manchester United in 2017, in a deal worth £75m.

The relationship between Toffees fans and Lukaku soured after that, although it seems that’s now water under the bridge.

Lukaku sent a classy message to Everton supporters earlier this year, and wished the club lots of success at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.