Chelsea outcast Romelu Lukaku could have a surprise redemption arc at Stamford Bridge after impressing at Euro 2024.
The Belgium frontman is yet to score in Germany so far this summer, but it hasn’t been for a lack of trying after having three goals ruled out by the VAR. That being said, it could yet convince the powers that be in west London that he deserves another crack for the Blues.
And former Chelsea forward Tony Cascarino has suggested the conversation is there to be had with new manager Enzo Maresca. Following his move from Leicester City earlier this summer, the Italian is likely to look at his current squad with a blank slate.
That could be music to the ears of Lukaku, who has spent the past two seasons on loan away from the club but still has two years to run on his contract. And talkSPORT host Natalie Sawyer spotted one detail that could hint Chelsea are interested in a resurgence.
Sawyer, 44, highlighted the fact the Blues’ official website has been producing match reports on Lukaku’s Belgium at Euro 2024, most recently lauding his performance in the 2-0 win over Romania. If Maresca and the club’s board were attempting to curry favour with their misfit, that’s one plan that could help turn him back onside.
Lukaku, 31, has spent a total of six years on Chelsea’s books across two separate spells but made just 59 appearances for the club. That being said, the arrival of a fresh mind at the helm offers a potential lifeline at the first major outfit to invest in his talents.
“First thing I would say [is] this is on the new coach that’s coming in,” said Cascarino. “If you’re going to sit down and you want him. . .because first of all you have to ask the question. You’ve got to say to Romelu Lukaku, ‘You’re back here, there’s [offers] on the table’… but you’re asking the question, ‘I want you to stay if you’re prepared and you want to stay at this football club and give it a go, because I think I can get a tune out of ya.’
“If you ask the question and he says, ‘Nah I’d prefer to leave,’ then you haven’t got a discussion at all. You never want to take a player who thinks he’s doing you a favour being at your club. You want a player to say, ‘I want to play. I want to prove myself to the Chelsea fans’.”
One might forgive Lukaku becoming disillusioned with chasing that dream at Stamford Bridge, having already been sold by the club once and loaned out on four separate occasions. That being said, he clearly still has some scoring potential left after netting 21 times in 47 appearances at Roma last season.
There’s also the fact Chelsea are in the market for a centre forward this summer after Nicolas Jackson looked over-burdened leading the attack last term. Combine that with the club’s current financial situation, the need to cut costs and the lesser fee they’d likely get for an ageing Lukaku, and their best bet may be to attempt squeezing the most out of the player while he’s around.
