How Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment will affect Romelu Lukaku’s Chelsea career

Romelu Lukaku could be handed a Chelsea lifeline by incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino, it has been reported, just 12 months on from his acrimonious departure from the club.

Lukaku arrived from Inter Milan in a deal worth £100m in 2021, but fell out with Thomas Tuchel and the Chelsea fans before being sent back to Italy on loan for the season.

However, Inter Milan will be unable to sign Romelu Lukaku permanently this summer as it stands, with the club continuing to lose money and unable to stump up any sort of acceptable transfer fee.

The Belgian will therefore ‘return to Chelsea against his will at the end of the season’, reports Italian media, with the 30-year-old having struggled to nail down a spot in the Italian side this season.

Milan, Italy, 18th February 2023. Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale reacts with the ball as he wait for a VAR check to be concluded by the Referee Federico Dionisi opera a possible penalty during the Serie A match at Giuseppe Meazza, Milan. Picture credi 2NGXK5N Milan, Italy, 18th February 2023. Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale reacts with the ball as he wait for a VAR check to be concluded by the Referee Federico Dionisi opera a possible penalty during the Serie A match at Giuseppe Meazza, Milan. Picture credit should read: Jonathan Moscrop / Sportimage (Alamy Stock Photo)

However, the Telegraph report that his Chelsea career may not be over.

The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino, who is expected to be announced as the new Blues boss in the coming days, changes things, and ‘the club will hold talks with Lukaku over his options and have not ruled out the possibility of the Belgian being reintegrated into the first-team squad if he is prepared to try to revive his Blues career’, it is claimed.

And, with Inter Milan seemingly not a possibility for the striker, Stamford Bridge may be his best bet next season.