Transfer Centre

Romelu Lukaku 'to be offered chance to stay at Chelsea'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 26 April 2023

Chelsea reportedly intend to offer Romelu Lukaku - currently on loan at Inter Milan - a chance to stay at Stamford Bridge if Mauricio Pochettino is appointed as head coach.

Romelu Lukaku will reportedly be offered the opportunity to remain at Chelsea during the summer transfer window.

Despite scoring 15 goals from 44 appearances during his first year back at Stamford Bridge, it was widely perceived that his £97.5m return to the club had been a failure.

As a result, the Belgium international was allowed to immediately reunite with Inter, where he struggled to make an impact during the first half of 2022-23.

Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta even hinted that Lukaku would definitely return to Chelsea on the back of his poor form, but the 29-year-old has since improved in recent weeks.

Backing up his hat-trick for his country versus Sweden last month, Lukaku has contributed four goals and two assists since the international break, leaving him with more respectable figures at San Siro.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on April 4, 2023 © Reuters

As it stands, Lukaku's long-term future remains up in the air, but the frontman has publicly acknowledged that he would prefer to extend his stay at I Nerazzurri.

Nevertheless, according to The Telegraph, Chelsea have not closed the door on Lukaku representing his parent club next season.

The West Londoners are said to be on the brink of appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach, marking the start of a new era at the club.

Lukaku will allegedly be asked whether he wishes to try to revive his Chelsea career under the Argentine at a time when Chelsea will require a new central forward.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Mauricio Pochettino on March 20, 2022 © Reuters

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to depart the club on a free transfer, while Armando Broja has been sidelined with a serious knee injury since December and will not return until pre-season at the very earliest.

Chelsea's hierarchy are also in a position where they must attempt to get value for money from the former club-record addition, whether that be through game time or facilitating a sale or loan.

In an ideal world, Inter would re-sign Lukaku on a permanent basis, but the Serie A outfit are not in a position to meet Lukaku's valuation.

However, the Chelsea board may also be open to getting Lukaku's wages off their outgoings at a time when they are under immense pressure to meet FFP regulations, a result of their failure to qualify for next season's Champions League and likelihood of missing out on European football altogether.