According to a report from Daily Mail, Chelsea have apparently rejected a loan proposal from Juventus for Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker, who spent a year on loan at Inter Milan, is currently training at Cobham after rejoining the Blues. Despite this, it seems highly likely that he will not stay at the club beyond the summer, as new boss Mauricio Pochettino has all but confirmed his departure by excluding him from the Blues’ pre-season tour of America.
The West London club maintain that Lukaku’s price tag remains at £34.2 million, but there is a possibility that it could decrease in the near future due to him being currently sidelined by the Stamford Bridge side.
Lukaku’s Impressive Loan Spell With Inter Milan Last Season
Following a challenging stint at Stamford Bridge, Romelu Lukaku found a new lease of life during his loan spell at Inter Milan. While he struggled to perform at his best as the focal point of Thomas Tuchel’s attack, Lukaku experienced a significant turnaround with the Italian club. Throughout his loan tenure, the 30-year-old Belgian international showcased his quality by scoring 10 goals and providing six assists in 25 appearances across various competitions.
Lukaku’s consistency and reliability in the final third were evident, as he recorded an average of 2.0 shots, 1.3 key passes, and 0.6 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Although his link-up play in the attacking third may have been somewhat lacking, as indicated by a pass completion rate of 72.5% in top-flight football, Lukaku remained a potent threat for Inter Milan (statistics sourced from whoscored).
Will The Belgian Forward Successfully Make An Exit From Chelsea This Summer?
Romelu Lukaku continues to pose a significant attacking threat with his adept goal-poaching abilities inside the penalty box. The seasoned striker excels at positioning himself in optimal areas to capitalize on deliveries from his teammates, demonstrating his ability to make the most of scoring opportunities when in a confident state. However, due to inconsistent form, Lukaku found himself slipping down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge during Thomas Tuchel’s tenure, leading to his loan move to Serie A under substantial pressure.
Lukaku is an experienced veteran who possesses the ability to enhance any team’s attacking department with his formidable firepower and goal-scoring threat. His skill set and wealth of experience make him an invaluable asset, which is why Juventus displayed a strong interest in acquiring his services.
However, since the Blues have rejected Juventus’ loan offer and are sticking to their asking price, looking for a permanent exit, the Old Lady would be reluctant to make another offer. With the Italian giants now retreating, Inter are the only club with a vested interest in the Belgian international. Nonetheless, if Chelsea do not lower their asking price, it would be difficult to find potential suitors for Lukaku with his future remaining uncertain.
