There's only one destination for Lukaku - Tottenham with Conte

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 4 min read

In the summer of 2021, the prodigal son Romelu Lukaku returned to Chelsea, signing from Inter for €117 million.

While it may have seemed odd on paper for the Blues to spend so much money on a player they once had on their books as a young prospect, the signing of Lukaku was undoubtedly a statement transfer from the club.

After dominating Italian football with Inter with 64 goals in 95 games over the course of two seasons and helping the club win their first Serie A title in 10 years, the striker returned to English football as one of the best frontmen in world football and with a new point to prove.

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He took just 15 minutes into his second debut to find the back of the net. It was an especially happy homecoming given that it came away against Arsenal.

Lukaku's performances have fallen away as the season has gone on, while he sent shockwaves through the club by expressing regret at having left Inter during an explosive interview during the festive period.

He recently broke a record for having the least amount of touches (seven) for a starting Premier League player since Opta records began in a match against Crystal Palace.

Lukaku was not part of the Chelsea squad that performed admirably against Real Madrid in the Champions League and is now behind Kai Havertz and arguably Timo Werner in the striker pecking order.

Taking all this into account, his future is far from certain.

Should he leave, various destinations have been mentioned including a return to Inter as well as Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Lukaku should look no further than Tottenham.

Why Lukaku should go to Tottenham

Speaking to talkSPORT, former Tottenham striker Darren Bent urged Spurs to bring Lukaku in should they lose the talismanic Harry Kane.

“As long as Antonio Conte’s there, I don’t think Harry Kane would go anywhere,” he said.

“But if worse came to worse and Harry Kane did leave, and go elsewhere, if they can get Lukaku, you’ve seen what Conte can get out of Romelu Lukaku.

“Even down to his nutrition, because that was the best I’ve ever seen him look, last season and at the start of this season.

“If there was an opportunity and Kane leaves and Conte can get Lukaku, I’d go out all day to get it, all day.

“I think as someone who has plenty of Premier League experience, there’d be no one better to replace Harry Kane.

“I know they’re completely different in terms of players, Harry Kane dropping in and [is] technically a better footballer, but Lukaku would be an adequate replacement, certainly with what he did with Conte already. So, I would.”

It feels slightly simplistic to say, but Lukaku should be eager to seek out the man who developed him into one of the most devastating strikers around in Antonio Conte.

But it is fairly clear that it was a match made in heaven between the pair, as Lukaku flourished not only under Conte's man management, but his 3-4-3/3-5-2 system.

Conte is currently implementing this system at Tottenham, and even if Kane were to leave, the prospect of Lukaku linking up with Heung-Min Son is one that should excite Spurs fans.

Lukaku's future may be intrinsically linked with Kane's, as it is highly unlikely that Spurs would be able to play with both due to the latter's recent tendency to drop deeper into the No.10 role - both players need a partner with the ability to sprint in behind, like Son.