Chelsea could be set to offload Romelu Lukaku for good, with the 29-year-old “very open” to making his loan move at Inter Milan permanent.
That is according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who believes that the Belgium star wants to remain in Serie A, with the division said to be the best place for him considering this stage in his career and his previous success in Italy.
What’s the word?
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said of Lukaku: “He really enjoys his life in Italy. He sees the league as almost perfect for him, particularly at this stage of his career.
“If this can work out in a way that means he does end up staying in Serie A, then he would probably be very open to it.”
A big shame
When Lukaku secured his £97.5m move back to Chelsea and to the Premier League in 2021, big expectations came with him – and rightly so, having registered an emphatic 35 direct goal contributions from 36 Serie A appearances for Inter Milan in 2020/21 in the form of 24 goals and 11 assists.
His superb form in Italy led to Euro 2020 winner Leonardo Bonucci heaping praise on the Belgian, calling him “a complete striker“.
However, Chelsea got just eight goals out of Lukaku in the Premier League last term, with his return overshadowed by some ill-judged comments which drew the ire of then-manager Thomas Tuchel. The forward made just 16 starts in the league and was promptly shipped back to Inter on loan.
Unfortunately, his unfinished business in SW6 seems destined to forever remain, with Chelsea reportedly having no interest in giving the Belgian yet another chance to prove himself in west London.
Ultimately, it’s a big shame. Graham Potter could be the sort of manager who could get a fine tune out of a physical presence like Lukaku, but it does not look as though he will get that opportunity, with the 29-year-old seemingly happy in Italy and unwanted at his parent club.
