Pochettino NOT TALKING to £100m Chelsea star
Robin Bairner
- 23 Aug 2023 07:55 BST
- 3 min read
Romelu Lukaku promises to be Mauricio Pochettino’s first big headache as Chelsea manager, with reporters filtering out that the Belgium striker is not even on speaking terms with his new boss as he attempts to engineer a move out of Stamford Bridge this summer.
Lukaku has successfully irritated a string of personalities and clubs this summer, with both Inter and Juventus fans protesting about the possibility of their respective teams signing the 30-year-old hitman.
In particular, the former Manchester United striker has left Inter seething after it emerged that he was holding secret talks with rivals Juventus as they attempted to re-sign him for a third spell.
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Now Juve appear to be in the driving seat to complete a deal – but they need to find a way to offload Dusan Vlahovic. The Serie A outfit had hoped to use the Serbia international as leverage in a swap deal, but Chelsea do not want the former Fiorentina mean, leaving Lukaku stuck in limbo.
According to the Telegraph, Lukaku, who signed for the Blues for €113 million in 2021 from Inter, is doing his best to force his way out of Chelsea, where he is training with the U21s.
It is confirmed here that Lukaku, who is under contract until 2026, has not even spoken to Pochettino, indicating that there is an icy relationship between the striker and the hierarchy of the club – even those he has had little previous relationship with.
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Saudi Pro League the only way out?
Interest in Lukaku from European sides appears limited at best. The striker commands a huge wage that only a few clubs can afford to foot, while the Blues also want a sizeable transfer fee, having rejected a bid of €30 million from Inter early in the transfer window.
Juventus’ interest has stalled over the Vlahovic issue, leaving the Saudi Pro League as a possible exit route, who has been adamant that he does not want move to the up-and-coming division.
If Lukaku finds himself till training with Chelsea’s U21s after the transfer window shuts on 1 September, he may choose to take a different stance, with the Saudi window open for three weeks beyond that date.
