EXPRESS
Chelsea reportedly have no intention of phasing Romelu Lukaku back into their starting XI next season, despite Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta claiming that the striker will be sent back to Stamford Bridge. Talks are believed to be underway in an effort to grant Lukaku another temporary exit route from west London.
The 29-year-old played the best football of his career during his first spell at San Siro, notching 64 goals in 95 games between 2019 and 2021. Big things were therefore expected when he jumped ship and signed for Chelsea in a £97.5million deal.
Just eight Premier League goals in 2021/22 came as a huge disappointment for all involved, and Lukaku was sent back to Inter on a season-long loan last summer. The marksman has failed to resurrect his career thus far as injuries wreak havoc on his progress in Italy.
Before sealing their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals thanks to an aggregate victory over Porto on Tuesday night, Inter chief Marotta stated, in no uncertain terms, that Lukaku will return to Chelsea this summer.
“I want to underline it was a one-season loan, so he will go back to Chelsea,” he said. “In Lukaku’s case his physicality and fitness are the key elements of his game. He is not at 100 per cent, he is not yet the same Lukaku that we saw in previous years.”
According to 90min, Chelsea have no plans to make Lukaku an integral part of Graham Potter’s side. Instead, they plan to try and facilitate another loan to Inter next season, who are keen to reduce the financial commitments involved in any potential deal.
The Nerazzurri are supposedly keen on having Lukaku back for another campaign, despite his disappointing form this term, and the striker is already believed to have held discussions with senior figures at Stamford Bridge regarding his future.
