Mauricio Pochettino has been told that Chelsea must 'get rid' of Romelu Lukaku at all costs. The 29-year-old striker will return from a season-long loan at Inter Milan this summer and, despite having left on sour terms, he's expected to be given a second chance in west London.
Lukaku, who sees his contract at Stamford Bridge expire in 2026, has featured 24 times for the Nerazzurri in the Serie A this term, directly contributing towards 15 goals. The Belgium international suffered a number of injuries at the start of the season but, once he got into his grove, he quickly built a head of steam.
After failing to find the net over the weekend, Lukaku has just one more game to prove himself worthy of a place in Pochettino's squad next season - the Champions League final. Despite his role in Inter's road to the European final against Manchester City, Frank Leboeuf has insisted that the Belgian must sold this summer.
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Speaking on the Si & Dan Talk Chelsea podcast, the former Blues defender explained why Lukaku doesn't deserve another chance at Chelsea. As quoted by the Metro, Leboeuf said: "I think he knows he wont be successful here so he’s already said he doesn’t want to come back.
"I think he’s already made up his mind, so he shouldn’t come back. If you don’t want to play for a club anymore then don’t play, and the club has to do everything to get rid of him.
"I know he was a lot of money, but get rid of him because he doesn’t want to be here. Fans will be resentful, so as soon as he plays poor he will be booed and there will be a big dramas, so what’s the point?
"Try to get rid of him, shake hands and say goodbye, that’s it. I wish him the best; I love Lukaku, and I really hope that he will be successful and hopefully he will find his happiness at Inter, and we can get somebody else."
If Lukaku, who is valued at just £17million now, is to return to Chelsea then he's been told to apologise to the fans first. In an interview with BoyleSports, Florent Malouda said: "There are many issues to be fixed, but I would not mind Romelu returning to Chelsea because I believe that he can, and he will, have something to prove.
"However, he can’t do it in the conditions that he previously left under - this is the reality. He has to improve his relationship with the fans for sure, because of the interview he gave two years ago when he was there.
"I read comments saying Pochettino wouldn’t mind working with Lukaku, and this should give Romelu confidence. He is still a top player and he has proved that during his time in Italy.
"He has faced a lot of adversity and he still has some wrongs to correct. Chelsea need good players and are not playing in the Champions League, so they need players who want to be here. There are too many players who are looking elsewhere because they don’t feel like they are part of the project."
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