Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has told Chelsea he wants to extend his loan spell at West Bromwich Albion for a second season.
Lukaku has been on loan at Albion since the start of the season and scored his sixth goal for the Baggies when he netted the winner in Saturday's 2-1 victory against Norwich.
Chelsea have the option to recall the 19-year-old during the January transfer window, but Lukaku, who struggled to break into the Blues team last season, is keen to extend his stay at the Hawthorns through to the end of the 2013-2014 campaign.
"I want to stay here. I've had so many questions in the last few weeks asking 'are you staying?'" Lukaku said.
"I have a lot of contact with Chelsea, but they are asking questions about my development and I tell them I'm very happy to be here.
"I have not spoken to the manager (Rafael Benitez) but I know what is going on. For me, it is a one-year loan and then hopefully it may be one year again next season.
"I need to play as much as I can in the next two years. For me, it is very important to play week in and week out because, at 19, you want to develop and I hope to be one of the great players in the Premier League.
"Chelsea know this season that I'm improving, and when I go back there, I want to be a much better player than when I arrived there."
Source: AFP
