Three players who could replace Lukaku at Chelsea
Martin Macdonald
- 2 Jan 2022 13:42 GMT
- 4 min read
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku recently gave an astonishing interview in which he criticised the methods of manager Thomas Tuchel, while expressing a desire to return to Inter in Serie A.
His outburst has led to Lukaku being dropped for Chelsea's Premier League game against Liverpool, with his future very much in doubt now.
The Belgian returned to Stamford Bridge in the summer for a club-record £97.5 million fee, but has struggled with fitness and form issues so far.
Lukaku does have seven goals in 12 starts, but it is below the levels expected, and he has suggested it is due to Tuchel's tactics.
“Physically I am fine. But I'm not happy with the situation at Chelsea. Tuchel has chosen to play with another system,” he told Sky Italia.
“I won't give up, I'll be professional. I am not happy with the situation but I am professional - and I can't give up now.
TRENDING
“I think everything that happened last summer was not supposed to happen like this... how I left Inter, the way I left the club, how I communicated with Inter fans. This bothers me because it was not the right time.
“Now it's the right time to share my feelings. I have always said that I have Inter in my heart: I know I will return to Inter, I really hope so.
“I am in love with Italy, this is right moment to talk and let people know what really happened.
"I really hope from bottom of my heart to return to Inter not at the end of my career, but when I'm still at top level to win more together."
Should Lukaku press for a transfer away, or should Tuchel decide to offload him after the above comments, Chelsea will need a top-class replacement.
Here are some options.
Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
Every single elite club in Europe now wants Haaland following his fantastic performances for Dortmund over the past couple of seasons.
His goalscoring is almost unmatched and as a result the Norwegian has been linked to Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Juventus and of course Chelsea.
The Premier League sides, simply due to their vast riches, are the favourites to land Haaland.
It remains highly unlikely that Dortmund will sanction a mid-season transfer, but their stance may change if an enormous offer comes in.
Chelsea were linked with Haaland in the summer before eventually signing Lukaku, but Tuchel could ask the club to go get him again.
Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina)
Dusan Vlahovic has exploded into the best young striker in Europe – after the incomparable Haaland – in 2021.
This calendar year only Robert Lewandowski scored more than Vlahovic’s 33 league goals in Europe’s top five leagues.
Vlahovic’s contract expires in 2023 and he won’t be signing a new deal. That means he will definitely leave Fiorentina within the next year.
It is highly likely that Vlahovic will depart in the summer as Fiorentina are chasing European or even Champions League qualification. However, a January move can’t be ruled out if an astronomical bid is made.
Juventus, Man City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund are just some of the big clubs interested in the giant Serb, but Chelsea would certainly be thrust into the conversation if they suspect that Lukaku will leave.
Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
Perhaps the most simple solution for Chelsea would be to try and engineer a swap deal involving Lukaku and current Inter forward Lautaro Martinez.
Martinez is now Inter's main man up top following Lukaku's departure, and he is widely expected to be the next star to fetch the Nerazzurri a huge transfer fee.
He has been strongly linked to both Real Madrid and Barcelona in the past, but the former will focus on other targets, while the latter are in no position to spend the kind of money Inter will be after especially after the recent acquisition of Ferran Torres.
Martinez has 11 goals in 13 Serie A starts this season which puts him on course for the best goalscoring campaign of his career.
Would the prospect of linking up with Lukaku again actually want Martinez to stay at Inter, however?
Read more about: Premier League, Chelsea, Dušan Vlahović, Erling Haaland, Lautaro Martinez, Romelu Lukaku
