Former Chelsea star urges SHOCK Lukaku transfer alternative

Tom Hancock

• 26 Jun 2023 22:41 BST
• 3 min read

Ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has urged Everton to re-sign Romelu Lukaku this summer, amid continued uncertainty over the Belgian’s future.

Lukaku spent last season on loan at Inter – who he had left to rejoin Chelsea in a then club-record €115m (£98m) in the summer of 2021, only to underwhelm rather spectacularly.

The 30-year-old was previously an Everton player for four years, having initially joined the Toffees on loan from Chelsea.

MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sutton – who won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers before a forgettable one-season stint with the Blues – explained why he feels Everton should target Lukaku as a replacement for the injury-prone Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He said:

“[Everton manager] Sean Dyche would have been thinking about this 24/7 – about how to take that next step with Calvert-Lewin; it’s so frustrating. We saw when he had a run towards the end of the season the impact he can have – but Dyche can’t trust him...go and get Lukaku. I have said Lukaku and I’ll say it again.”

Lukaku has also been linked with Inter’s arch-rivals AC Milan, as well as a lucrative switch to the Saudi Pro League – where his former Chelsea teammate N’Golo Kante will be playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr next season.

MORE: AC Milan tell Chelsea how much they will pay for Lukaku

No Blues future for Lukaku

As for Chelsea, their recent signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig would appear to confirm that Lukaku doesn’t have a future at Stamford Bridge as the club move into their new era under Mauricio Pochettino.

Lukaku scored just 15 goals in 59 appearances after rejoining the Blues – where he had previously failed to establish himself the best part of a decade earlier.

He fared better for Inter last term, though, finding the net 14 times in 37 outings – but his campaign ended on a disappointing note as he spurned a golden chance to equalise in the Nerazzurri’s Champions League final defeat to Manchester City.