Pochettino reviews Chelsea’s win over Tottenham
Romelu Lukaku has outscored the majority of the Chelsea squad combined this season, despite Todd Boehly’s desperation to cash in on the services of the striker. The Belgian is currently out on loan with AS Roma, and a permanent move to the Serie A is growing increasingly likely in 2024.
Lukaku impressed last season out on loan at Inter Milan, helping the Italian side to the Champions League final and prompting the club to push vigorously to acquire his services permanently over the summer.
However, following his arrival at Stamford Bridge, Mauricio Pochettino made it clear that he would like the opportunity to speak with Lukaku before green-lighting his exit in the hope of persuading the ex-Manchester United star to commit to his project.
The Argentine’s desperate plea proved unsuccessful and Lukaku eventually joined Roma on loan, snubbing Inter and several Saudi sides. A permanent exit is now on the cards this summer, despite the forward being the ideal player for Chelsea as it stands.
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Lukaku has hit the ground running at the Stadio Olimpico, scoring nine goals in all competitions and earning himself high praise from manager Jose Mourinho for his top-quality performances.
The 30-year-old has therefore scored more than Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Armando Broja, Carney Chukwuemeka, Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile combined. Lukaku has also scored more than Nicolas Jackson (six), Raheem Sterling (four) and Cole Palmer (three) to further highlight how Todd Boehly could be making a blunder in parting ways with the former Everton star.
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Chelsea are expected to dip into the transfer market when the January window opens in the hope of adding another goal scorer to their ranks that can spearhead their charge into the European places. Napoli star Victory Osimhen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney are two names high on the shortlist at Stamford Bridge, though Pochettino is working alongside the club’s recruitment team to identify the best option.
The Blues could be tempted to resist the temptation to splash the cash in January so that Lukaku can be used as a makeweight in a deal over the summer, given his strong desire to cut ties with the club completely. Reports in Italy have speculated that a player-plus-cash deal could be an option that Chelsea entertain for Lukaku, with Tammy Abraham heading in the other direction after two years away from his boyhood side.
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