Romelu Lukaku's Chelsea career is at strange crossroads once more. It's tough to even call it a career given most of his time has been on-loan or waiting for chances. Despite being owned by the Blues for five years he has made just 59 appearances and scored 15 goals.
His fairytale return was far from that and the £97m spent on him is a reminder of exactly what Todd Boehly and co need to avoid. It might be the worst transfer ever made by the club. It's not over yet either. Lukaku is still owned by Chelsea and ahead of a busy January and summer 2023, Boehly will have another big decision to make.
The Belgian is, once again, out on-loan. This time back to Inter Milan where Chelsea purchased him from last summer, and things aren't going well. Lukaku has been struggling for fitness and has played just three times, scoring once.
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There is no current understanding as to if he will remain at Inter next season or what clauses are in his contract, so Boehly may well have to plan for Graham Potter to deal with the 29-year-old in June. There may be a surprise way out for Chelsea though.
Italian publication Gazzetta reports that popular rapper Jay-Z and Boehly are friends and that Lukaku, who is also a friend of the 52-year-old entertainment star, is part of the Roc Nation Sports management group that Jay-Z founded in 2013. According to the report, Chelsea and Milan have agreed a second season loan for Lukaku which will include a purchase of the striker at the end of the 2023/2024 season.
Any announcement will not come until the new year, it is written, due to Lukaku's participation in the World Cup and also Inter Milan's unpredictable and unstable financial position. Lukaku, who saw his reputation at Chelsea fall rapidly under Thomas Tuchel after a massive falling out over his controversial interview with Sky Italy just over 12-months ago, would not become an option for Potter at all in this agreement and may well have played his last game for Chelsea, ending a tumultuous and ultimately massive failure for both parties.
Lukaku had previously said that Inter was his 'dream' club and went on to win Serie A under Antonio Conte before leaving and joining Chelsea. He never truly settled back in England and made his desire to go back to Italy clear, all but ending the relationship he had with the Stamford Bridge faithful.
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