Chelsea unlikely to use Romelu Lukaku if he returns from Inter Milan
Romelu Lukaku is expected to come back to Chelsea once his loan stint at Inter Milan is finished, but he might not get playing time.
The Blues no longer desire the Belgian, according to Corriere dello Sport (h/t Express.UK), since Boehly is reportedly only interested in players under the age of 30.
As he nears his 30th birthday, Lukaku somehow doesn’t seem to be being considered as a remedy for the Blues’ goal-scoring problems because Todd Boehly is more interested in signing younger players.
Lukaku made his £97 million return to the Blues from Inter Milan 18 months ago, but his debut campaign in the club’s colours was everything but successful.
Before being sent back to the San Siro last summer, he experienced a rapid decline in play and a tumultuous relationship with Thomas Tuchel.
Throughout his absences, Chelsea have struggled mightily in front of goal, fueling claims that he might not be welcomed back into the lineup for the upcoming campaign.
Boehly is looking for players under 30 as he attempts to assemble a team in the near future. Lukaku will turn 30 in May. The 29-year-old underperformed at Stamford Bridge, but despite his advanced age, he is still a capable goal scorer. That is, if Potter can bring out the best out of him at Chelsea.
Yet, we can give him another shot or employ him as a backup striker as we already have spent handsomely under our new owners. However, it would be very slim for the Belgian striker to play at Chelsea next season, but we may still give him a chance to prove himself or find a replacement.
The age policy didn’t seem to be an issue when we signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona in the summer transfer window. That move has failed terribly, so perhaps there is a lesson to be learnt there.
More Chelsea News:
- Chelsea confirm loaning out of Andrey Santos back to Vasco da Gama
- Zinedine Zidane and Luis Enrique emerge as favourites to succeed Graham Potter at Chelsea
- Napoli ready to splash the cash to keep Chelsea target Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Then again, some of the world’s best players right now are above 30. Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos among others are still going strong. If Lukaku is deemed ideal to play in Potter’s system and play as a lone centre-forward, then there is no reason why we shouldn’t trust him or at least give him a chance.
It is always exciting to have new names added to the squad but Lukaku is an in-house solution which can save us a ton of money. That is, if he delivers on being given a chance. He was, after all, a huge investment on our part and it would be unlikely for us to recoup that money were we to transfer-list him.