Chelsea have been warned against selling Romelu Lukaku this summer despite the striker continuously being linked with moves to Europe. Barcelona, Real Madrid and his former club Inter Milan are among the sides to be linked with the 28-year-old but after his two-goal display against Wolves, the Blues have been urged to give him more time.
Lukaku was signed for a club-record fee of £97 million in the summer transfer window but has fallen short of the standards expected of him and has scored just 14 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions. A misjudged interview in the winter also did not help and accelerated rumours of a departure.
But he once again showed flashes of what he is capable of by scoring twice against Wolves on Saturday afternoon. Chelsea threw the three points away to draw 2-2 while prospective new owner Todd Boehly watched on from the stands, but the individual performance of Lukaku at least gave Thomas Tuchel some reason for optimism ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley.
However, former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks has sent a warning to club in the wake of the display. Crooks included Lukaku in his team of the week and warned Chelsea not to sell the Belgium international, as it is clear how much his teammates like him. He also pointed to the arrival of Boehly as a reason to do all they can to keep Lukaku in west London.
"The reaction from his team-mates to Lukaku's successfully converted penalty said all you need to know about his popularity in the dressing room," Crooks wrote in his column for BBC Sport.
"But it was the way he stuck away his second goal with such confidence and composure that suggests Thomas Tuchel must be very careful with how he handles Lukaku's future at Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea striker has had a difficult season at Chelsea and could return to Italy in a heartbeat. Meanwhile, there is an element of uncertainty surrounding the club at the moment.
"It looks like Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta are already off and they would be wise to stem the flow of departures until the new owners get their feet under the table."
