Across the multiverse, there is probably some world that saw Chelsea skip a deal in the 2021 summer transfer window in the search for a new centre-forward.
Instead of breaking the club's transfer record for Romelu Lukaku's cinematic return to Stamford Bridge, Thomas Tuchel stuck with Kai Havertz as his main attacker. What plays out? Would it have led to Chelsea being seriously in the race for Erling Haaland? Would Roman Abramovich have been sanctioned by the UK government in this universe?
The general regret over the near-£100million fee for Lukaku sometimes fails to appreciate that Tuchel did push for a new forward and agreed to the Lukaku deal. Although the Belgian is culpable for his infamous and ill-timed interview and performances on the pitch, he was not forced upon Tuchel as some may want to believe.
