“2x less flop than Mudryk” “Sell him now” – Enzo Maresca opens up to sell ‘Chelsea star’ who’s more than flop than Mudryk
Assessing Chelsea’s High-Profile Acquisitions: Lukaku and Mudryk
Mykhaylo Mudryk’s Lackluster Opening
Chelsea’s Ukrainian winger Mykhaylo Mudryk has not lived up to his high price tag since defeating Arsenal to sign him. Mudryk arrived with enormous expectations, signing for an astounding £89 million in January 2023.
Nevertheless, he only started 18 of the 31 Premier League games throughout his rookie campaign, netting five goals and dishing out two assists. Although there is hope that the international player from Ukraine will eventually reach his full potential, the same hope does not apply to another high-priced signing from previous years.
The Price of Lukaku Romelu
The Transfer of Lukaku to Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku was one of Europe’s best strikers in the 2020–21 campaign, with 32 starts for Inter Milan and 24 goals and 10 assists. Chelsea broke their club transfer record the next summer, paying £97.5 million for a five-year contract to re-sign him.
Lukaku scored three goals in his first three games back at Stamford Bridge, marking a positive start to his comeback. But his comeback was soon transformed into a nightmare after he voiced his displeasure with Chelsea and manager Thomas Tuchel in an interview.
Lukaku’s Transfer Value in 2024
Since then, Lukaku has been loaned out, first back to Inter Milan for the 2022/23 season, where he scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 19 starts. Last season, Mauricio Pochettino also found no place for him, sending him on loan to Roma, where he netted 13 goals in 30 starts. This summer, both Enzo Maresca and Todd Boehly agree that Lukaku’s future lies away from Chelsea, with a permanent move being the goal.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Napoli and Udinese are interested in loaning Lukaku, but Chelsea is intent on selling the 31-year-old, with Saudi Arabia being a potential destination. According to CIES Football Observatory, Lukaku’s current market value is around £25 million, over £70 million less than his original transfer fee. This valuation puts him at half of Mudryk’s estimated £50 million value, highlighting his dramatic decline as an asset.
Comparative Value
For context, Lukaku’s current worth is comparable to players like Djordje Petrovic and Trevoh Chalobah and significantly lower than Cole Palmer’s £85 million valuation. Despite being Chelsea’s third-most expensive signing ever, his value has plummeted, contrasting sharply with the rest of the top five, excluding Wesley Fofana, who has struggled with injuries.
Conclusion
Signing Lukaku may be one of Chelsea’s biggest transfer mistakes, and the club is now eager to move on from the striker. They hope his performance at the European Championships will boost his value slightly. Nevertheless, Lukaku, labeled “inconsistent” by some journalists, will likely be remembered as a major disappointment by Chelsea fans.