Chelsea boss Graham Potter will have a new number 9 to work with in the summer.
It’s been reported that Chelsea will be looking to sign a new striker in the next transfer window, with it being a position they lack in and need, but there will be one coming back in regardless.
Of course, for Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku will not be a new player, having had two spells there already and only currently being on loan at Inter Milan. But for Potter, he is new as the pair have never worked together before.
But Inter’s CEO has confirmed that Lukaku will be back at Chelsea in the summer regardless, and it doesn’t sound like he will be speaking about a loan extension or a permanent buy.
This makes you wonder what Potter and Chelsea will decide to do with the Belgium international, seeing as it was a relationship with former boss Thomas Tuchel that broke down.
“The loan was for one season so on June 30 regardless of how well he plays, he’ll go back to Chelsea.
“This has been an unprecedented season. I’m referring of course to the (winter) World Cup. The problems we’ve experienced have been experienced by other clubs too and the players who played at the World Cup.
“Lukaku is a case in point. (Marcelo) Brozović isn’t the Brozović we know. Lukaku hasn’t found the fitness he needs to play his best football. He’s still not at his best or the player we got to see in years gone by.”
-Beppe Marotta; source: Sky Italia via The Athletic