Romelu Lukaku has been told that even 49-year-old Christian Vieri would be capable of outscoring him as he rapidly approaches a difficult decision over his future.
The Belgian striker joined Inter Milan on a season-long loan deal last summer following a disappointing campaign with Chelsea following his £97m return. Lukaku has scored just five goals for the club in all competitions since and is very quickly en route to the lowest total of his entire career.
Whilst his season has been disrupted hugely through injury, he has managed to score three goals in his last five outings, the latest coming in Inter’s 2-1 defeat to Spezia. That has not left many convinced though - particularly ex Inter striker Vieri.
The former Nerazzurri forward has claimed that it is not a particularly tasking assignment to get on the scoresheet for the club, whilst also suggesting that he would be capable of challenging the league’s elite goalscorers even with his 50th birthday on the horizon.
Speaking to BoboTV, he said: "Inter at home create 10 chances per game, play well. You have [Denzel] Dumfries who crosses, [Federico] Dimarco who crosses, you have [Nicolo] Barella…
"There are more players who put Lukaku in a good position. I'll tell you one thing: if I played for this Inter, I'd win the top scorer every year."
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Vieri’s assessment comes with Lukaku approaching an ever-increasing dilemma. The Belgian has started just eight league games for Inter this season with Simone Inzaghi preferring a Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko partnership.
He also appears unlikely to remain in Italy next season. According to Mail Online, Inter have made it clear that they cannot afford another loan spell despite Lukaku having already issued his desire to stay with the club.
Speaking with Sky Italia, he said: "I hope to stay in the future too. For me, Inter means everything. Now I have to do everything necessary, together with the team, for Inter to win. Then we'll see.”
A permanent move then seems highly unlikely considering that Chelsea will want to recoup the vast majority of the record-breaking outlay that they spent on him just under two years ago. Fortunes do not appear any better at Stamford Bridge either.
Current Chelsea boss Graham Potter has not given any thought to Lukaku’s future. Speaking in a press conference, he said: “I’m not thinking about him at the moment, he’s an Inter player. I’m sure that there will be discussions on his future, but at the end of the season.”
Lukaku will be faced with plenty of competition should he return to West London. Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling and David Datro Fofana have all been selected to lead the line for the Blues this season.
RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku continues to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and given his goalscoring record over the last few seasons appears the favourite to lead the line for the Blues next season. Given that both his parent and his loan club do not want Lukaku next season, he finds himself in a hugely difficult situation.
For the time being, he will hope to continue racking up the goals in Serie A and hoping to prove that Vieri’s assessment was misguided.
