Graham Potter hints at a loan recall for Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea
According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea manager Graham Potter has hinted at a potential return for Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku next summer.
The Belgian ace is currently on loan at Inter Milan following an inconsistent second debut season at Stamford Bridge in 2021-22. The 29-year-old was the reigning Serie A MVP when he arrived at Chelsea but failed to hit the same heights in Blue.
He was allowed to return to Inter on loan last summer, months before Graham Potter succeeded Thomas Tuchel in the Blues’ hotseat. The Englishman has had no chance yet to work with the Belgian striker.
Potter believes Chelsea have a decision to make on Lukaku’s future in the upcoming summer transfer window. For now, he remains keen for the 29-year-old to see out his stint at the Giuseppe Meazza.
“He is on loan and an Inter Milan player. I think it is important he finishes that off. Then we have a decision to make in the summer.”
Perhaps tellingly, he goes on to add that Lukaku is a player who has earned his admiration. The Belgian is certainly a formidable player in the right system and displayed in Inter Milan’s Scudetto-winning 2020-21 season.
“He is someone I admire a lot, I like a lot but again it is something to think about over the summer.”
It is no secret that Chelsea need a striker next summer. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang appears to be on his way out and Kai Havertz is far from prolific. Lukaku has the ability to be a regular goal-getter in the right system.
Whether Potter will be keen to reintegrate the Belgian into the squad remains to be seen. Ultimately it could all come down to whether Chelsea can bring in their preferred targets in the summer.
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Lukaku appears to have rediscovered his scoring boots for Belgium during the international break. Hopefully, it will see him go on to finish strongly with Inter Milan, perhaps even convincing Chelsea that his time in London might not have set just yet.