Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, 30, has just returned from a loan stint at Inter Milan. However, he’s played no football for the Blues’ since his return, and he didn’t feature in the club’s preseason fixtures. He has also been training away from the rest of the team. So, what does the future have in store for the Belgian?
(Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
Lukaku could be set to link up with his former manager Jose Mourinho at Roma. Lukaku spearheaded the Special One’s attack at Manchester United and after 28 Premier League goals in two seasons, made a switch to Inter Milan in 2019.
His outstanding form in Italy saw Chelsea resign the Belgian for a then club record fee of £97.5 million which brings us to the Blues’ dilemma today.
Lukaku has failed to find a regular place in the Chelsea team and if a transfer cannot be agreed in the coming days, Lukaku may struggle for regular game time.
There may be hope for the striker with a new manager in the form of Mauricio Pochettino. With Armando Broja not yet at full fitness and Nicolas Jackson still adapting to life in English football, the Argentinian manager may decide integrating Lukaku into his first team plans in the short term may be a good option. If the Belgian can seize the opportunity if one presents itself in a blue shirt, perhaps his future could lie at Stamford Bridge after all.
Romelu Lukaku first featured for the Blues back in 2011, when he joined the club from Anderlecht as an 18-year-old for a fee thought to be between £15-20 million.
Lukaku made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Norwich in August 2011 in a 3-1 win for Chelsea. However this wasn’t the first of many appearances for him. Lukaku didn’t play much during the 2011/12 season, only featuring in eight Premier League games and making his first start in May 2012. He didn’t feature at all in the Champions League, and didn’t celebrate the Blues’ 2012 victory in the competition.
Lukaku had loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Everton, before the Toffees signed him on a permanent deal. He played there for a further three seasons before transferring to Manchester United. Two years later, he signed for Inter Milan.
Chelsea are expecting to have a resolution to the Lukaku conundrum by the transfer deadline of September 1st, however this solution is yet to be seen.
Article by Ellen Gwynn
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