Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Graham Potter’s appointment is unlikely to change the future of Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea.
The transfer guru has claimed that the Belgium striker ‘only wants Inter’ following a return to the club on a season-long loan this summer.
Lukaku only rejoined the Blues last year in a club-record £97.5m move from the Nerazzurri and he still has four years left on his £350k-per-week deal at Stamford Bridge.
New owner Todd Boehly stunned supporters this week by sacking Champions League-winning coach Thomas Tuhcel and handing Graham Potter the job but when it comes to Lukaku, it appears that the change in the dugout will have no effect due to the player’s stance.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Romano said: “Inter CEO Marotta yesterday night say it is too early to say what happens, we will see at the end of the season.
“The feeling at Inter is that the Tuchel sack story is not going to change the situation around Lukaku. They feel that they will have a chance to keep Lukaku for one more year at least on loan also for season 2023/2024 but it has to be negotiated with Chelsea.
“They already discussed it when they built the one-year loan deal, but it has to be negotiated with Chelsea so let’s see if Graham Potter will decide to change the situation.
“But Inter are absolutely happy with Lukaku and optimistic that they can keep Romelu long term because there is an important point, Lukaku only wants Inter as of today. We will see at the end of the season but as of now, for Lukaku it’s only Inter, and Inter more than happy with him so the expectation is for the situation not to change.”
The 29-year-old only managed eight goals in 26 Premier League appearances last season, with only three arriving since the turn of the year as his return to west London fizzled out.
Considering Potter likes his players to interchange while on the field and a preference for ‘energetic’ frontmen (Coaches’ Voice), it would appear that Lukaku wouldn’t exactly fit into the new manager’s style either and it could be that Chelsea decide to loan Lukaku back out for another season while perhaps bringing 20-year-old Armando Broja through to lead the line in rotation with Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.
