Tuchel could make £71m star as Lukaku replacement at Chelsea
Journalist Dean Jones claims that Chelsea will not likely sign a striker to replace Romelu Lukaku this summer.
Just a year after joining the Blues in a club-record £97.5 million transfer, Lukaku is edging closer to a shocking return to Inter Milan.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea and Inter have achieved a “complete agreement” that will allow Romelu Lukaku to return to the Nerazzurri on a season-long loan.
Timo Werner and Armando Broja will be the only recognized number nines left for Thomas Tuchel’s team, with the former frequently playing a supporting role and the latter having just one senior appearance for the Blues.
Kai Havertz, an offensive midfielder, has frequently been used at the top of the pitch by Tuchel during his 18-month stint.
The German international, who cost £71 million and scored the game-winning goal in the 2020–21 Champions League final, has scored 23 goals and provided 14 assists in 92 games for Chelsea. He could eventually take over as the team’s primary scorer.
Jones told GiveMeSport,: “I don’t think we’ll see a like-for-like replacement happen here.
“I don’t think that Chelsea are looking for a new Lukaku, but it’s interesting because when Lukaku came in, we were told that actually he did fit the bill a little bit because they wanted somebody that could set off play, that could act as a guy that brings in other players and then finishes off chances inside the box.
“Now that’s changing a little bit, and I’m not sure Chelsea are still looking for that profile a player, and maybe it means that Kai Havertz is the guy they’re looking for through the middle.”