Romelu Lukaku transfer news: Could he join Arsenal this summer?
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 10 Jun 2022 22:49 BST
- 4 min read
Romelu Lukaku has been heavily linked with a Chelsea exit this summer, just one year on from his club-record move to Stamford Bridge.
The former Manchester United and Everton forward excelled in Serie A with Inter, which prompted Thomas Tuchel's side to fork out €115 million to bring the Belgian back to the club.
However, the lofty heights Lukaku was expected to deliver haven't occurred and his mid-season interview with Sky Italia, in which he expressed his desire to return to Inter, curtailed his campaign.
His eight league goals is a tally matched by Chelsea's Conor Gallagher, who spent the season on loan at Crystal Palace, and was bettered by Mason Mount, who notched up double digits for both goals and assists in the Premier League.
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Lukaku's lack of form has led to much criticism and he was even dropped by Tuchel for large stretches of the back-end of the season, with Kai Havertz often selected ahead of him.
The state of Lukaku's situation at Chelsea has led to much transfer speculation, with a return to Inter reportedly on the cards. Any move back to San Siro would likely be a loan deal to ensure the Nerazzurri are able to fund any costs.
However, former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes the Gunners should try to approach Lukaku over a summer move.
Alexandre Lacazette has re-joined Lyon and Eddie Nketiah is yet to sign a new deal, leaving Mikel Arteta with no recognised senior strikers in his squad. Despite Lukaku's poor record last season, Merson thinks he'd be an excellent addition to the Arsenal squad.
What does Merson think?
In his column for the Daily Star, Merson wrote: "Arsenal should make a cheeky £60m bid for Romelu Lukaku this summer. Because if Chelsea are so desperate to let him go that they're talking about loaning him to Inter Milan, surely they would take the money!
"Arsenal haven't had someone who is big and strong and dynamic like that since Kevin Campbell. I know he hasn't scored a lot of goals this season but Lukaku is an elite goalscorer. Arsenal play great football up to the edge of the box but then it often fizzles out.
"Arsenal go through the lines. They want their striker on the edge of the box. It would suit him. They could roll it into him and he doesn't have to get involved in the build-up too much. He doesn't have to come too short and help build the play. I would be chasing Lukaku hard if I was Arsenal. I'd be trying my hardest. You don't have to do too much running at Arsenal.
"The way they play you want the centre forward to be up front and stay there. Arsenal have runners who could get in behind him and supply him with crosses. I would like to think Arsenal is a club Lukaku would consider. They're talking about him going back to Inter Milan. But Arsenal are as big a club as Inter.
"Lukaku would score goals for Arsenal. If he wants to be, Lukaku could still be a world beater. But it's all down to him. Does he want to be a world beater? I don't know. Only he can answer that.
"I think he needs to be loved. I think he needs an arm round him, and a manager who tells him how good he is all the time.
"Maybe Mikel Arteta is the man to do that - because he's not getting that from Thomas Tuchel. Whatever happens, Arsenal need to buy a striker in this window. I've said before they are one world class striker away from being real contenders.
"The number one priority has to be signing a striker who has a proven record of scoring goals in big leagues - and Lukaku certainly has that."
Is Lukaku the answer?
Arsenal have targeted Gabriel Jesus as their Lacazette replacement, while players such as Jonathan David and Alexander Isak have also been linked over the past six months.
Lukaku could be an effective solution if Arteta persists with a counter-attacking style, but the role played by Lacazette and Nketiah may not suit the Belgian.
The Frenchman often dropped deep to link play and allow Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli go in beyond, while Nketiah was an effective presser and allowed Arsenal to squeeze opponents high up the pitch.
Neither of those options suit Lukaku's style of play and it may be a square peg in a round hole, despite both parties' need for a change.
