We didn't pay £2.5m. They put a clause in the loan agreement that said we had to pay them £2m if we signed him on a permanent, as they were heavily subsidising his wages. We refused to pay it and a compromise was reached at about half of the that.
Traore has been linked with us, together with the other Traore that we had on the sick last season from Monaco. Lukaku hasn't ruled out a return, he said only last week that he could well come back to Goodison, so we live in hope.
As for 15 league goals being easy to replace.....Lukaku is the only Everton striker to score 15 league goals since the Yak in 2007/8 - and before that it was Kanchelskis in 1996 ffs. So hardly a doddle....
(as you'll find out with knobs on when you try and replace Jaws 31)
Fair point.. replacing his goals and assists won't be easy..
However, take his 31 goals away, we still bagged 70.. still more than the likes of Arsenal.
Could also add that we've bought in Lallana and Lambert, they're good for 15+ goals combined, so almost half replaced, and Lallana should be able to assist a few too..
BUT.. everyone and their grandma knows our defence was just slightly better than Brazils last season.
We improve that, I don't think we need to bag 3/4 goals a game to win them...
Time will tell I guess..
