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Football

Will it be a case of third time lucky for<br>Lukaku?

Romelo Lukaku has comeback to Inter Milan for his third reign from Chelsea. We discuss if it would be a third time lucky for him or not.

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Staff Reporter
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It is fair to say that Romelu Lukaku's record-setting return to Chelsea in the summer of 2021
did not play out as planned. The Belgian returned to Stamford Bridge with a £98 million
price tag hanging around his neck, and that was considered to be money well spent at the
time.

Steps to west London were retraced on the back of a productive spell in Milan with Inter that
delivered 64 goals through 95 appearances and a Serie A title triumph. With important
Premier League experience also tucked under his belt, there appeared to be little risk involved
in a deal for a fearsome No.9.

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Issues

Chelsea, though, struggled for consistency as a collective and those issues have carried over
into the current campaign. Early stumbles out of the blocks in 2022-23 led to the dismissal of
Thomas Tuchel and left the Blues scratching around for support in EPL tips as they slip to
30/1 for title glory and 11/10 for a top-four finish.

Lukaku is no longer around to aid their cause, with the decision taken to ship him back to San
Siro on a season-long loan. He has gone full circle in the space of 12 months, and history may
well repeat itself over the course of the next year.

That is because there is no agreement in place with Inter regarding a permanent transfer. As
things stand, a man who has previously turned out for West Brom, Everton and Manchester United will be due back in England next summer.

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A change in the dugout could see a slate wiped clean with parent employers, with those in
Italy aware that transfer matters may be taken out of their hands. Inter CEO Beppe Marotta
has said: "We absolutely want to get the best contribution out of Lukaku, and then at the end
of the season we'll sit down and discuss him with Chelsea. I don't know if a change of coaches means that his return is to be automatic."

Graham Potter is now calling the shots at Stamford Bridge and will want to cast an eye over
all of those at his disposal before making any future calls. That process will involve those
who are currently plying their trade elsewhere.

Lukaku may be out of sight at Chelsea, but he is not altogether out of mind. His pedigree
remains without question, with 100 Premier League goals on an impressive CV, and he is
more than capable of leading a line for the Blues if a system that suits him is implemented.

Demands

Tuchel was, rightly or wrongly, reluctant to cater to the demands of one player when drawing
up his tactical blueprint. With the likes of Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
now on board with the Blues, it may be that Potter favours a similar approach.
No definitive decisions have been made, though, and that is helping to keep all doors ajar. It
could be that Lukaku strolls back through one of those in 2023, with there still a chance for
him to make it a case of third time lucky on Chelsea's books.

Inter Milan Chelsea Fc Romelo Lukaku
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