Sam Allardyce turned down chance to sign Romelu Lukaku for just £10m from Chelsea while at West Ham
Former Hammers boss made a huge blunder in failing to sign the Belgian striker while he was warming the bench at Chelsea
SAM ALLARDYCE had the chance to sign Romelu Lukaku for just £10million but was put off by the price-tag.
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan admitted the now Everton boss made the blunder during the four years he was manager at the Hammers.
Lukaku, 24, moved to Manchester United for £75m last summer from the Toffees.
But his future could have panned out so differently had Allardyce decided to stump up the cash when the striker was warming the bench at Chelsea.
Speaking to the Guardian, Sullivan recalled the time he told the former England boss that Lukaku was available for £10m.
He said: “I asked Sam if he fancied Lukaku. Sam said he’d take him on loan but he wouldn’t buy him for that.
“Again I’ve supported the manager.”
West Ham have struggled for form this season largely down to their poor transfer dealings in the summer.
THE-GO Arsenal willing to sell Theo Walcott in January with West Ham and Southampton set to swoop
The Hammers were forced to axe boss Slaven Bilic and Sullivan admitted he should have done it in the summer.
He added: “I should have got rid of him in the summer
“But beating Tottenham in the last home game and beating Burnley was just enough. My family gave me such grief for not doing it. I thought he’d sorted things out.”
West Ham find themselves second bottom in 19th place with just 10 points from their first 15 matches.
With relegation a real threat, Sullivan admitted it would be “very damaging” if the club were relegated to the Championship.
He said: “It’s going to be very damaging if it happens.
“We’d have to do whatever it takes to keep the club afloat. If we go down, we’ll come straight back up. “We always come straight back up. We had to put £30m in the last time.”