Premier League legend Alan Shearer has told Marina Granovskaia that buying a partner for Romelu Lukaku could help overcame 'system' difficulties that the Belgian faced again in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.
Lukaku, 28, has become a prolific cup striker for Thomas Tuchel's side after he netted once more in the FA Cup in Teeside to move only four goals behind Sergio Aguero. The BBC released the statistic during the game that since Lukaku first arrived in England in 2012, only Aguero has scored more goals (20) in the FA Cup than the Belgian, whose first-half tap-in meant that he has 16 goals in the FA Cup.
Despite his goal, as football.london alluded to in his player rating, Lukaku didn't fully take his opportunity to move above the in-form Kai Havertz in the pecking order for the biggest of first team games in the Premier League and Champions League alike. His rating read: 'This was an opportunity for the Belgian to reassert himself in the Chelsea side and he got on the score sheet with a close-range finish after a Mount cross. Lukaku was on the fringes for the remainder of the first half but looked sharper in the second period and linked well with Ziyech and Mount. But this wasn't a performance to move Lukaku back above Kai Havertz in the pecking order. 7'
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These views were echoed in Shearer's underwhelming verdict of the £97.5million man, with the Toon legend making some suggestions as to why we aren't seeing the Inter Milan version of Lukaku and how Granovskaia and co. can solve this issue in the transfer market. "I said it before the game, I’m not sure the system that Chelsea use suits him," Shearer told the BBC.
"Yes, the way he played at Inter he had someone alongside him and I think, his style of play, he definitely prefers that. He needs balls into the box without a doubt.
"It’s not the right game to judge him on this season. It doesn’t look a comfortable situation for him in that team, they were impressive tonight but they do look a better team at times with Havertz in there. Havertz has the freedom to move around, but sometimes I think Lukaku is reluctant to make runs in behind."
Lukaku linked up superbly well with Lautaro Martinez at Inter, who nearly moved to one of Arsenal or Spurs in the summer. Could Tuchel go for the Argentine in the summer or maybe someone like a Jonathan David?
Or do the Blues already to have the options to do this with £70million Havertz and £50million German compatriot Timo Werner? Alternatively, despite Inter's CEO reluctance to comment on a potential return for the player who was worshipped by the Blue part of the city, could cutting a Stamford Bridge homecoming short be the best solution for all parties concerned come the summer?
