Thierry Henry has revealed the ideal next destination for Romelu Lukaku as multiple sliding doors await in the summer. The Belgian got back to goalscoring on Wednesday night in the Champions League but has had a torrid run of fitness since his summer loan.
Chelsea can take solace in that he is no longer the club's most expensive asset but a £97.5m striker on loan is hardly an ideal situation. Having fallen out with Thomas Tuchel and his Blues teammates shortly after joining in 2021, his long-term future appears to be away from Stamford Bridge.
It is a complex situation though, with Inter needing to agree to the conditions of a loan once more for next season, something that may well be hampered by his lack of game time so far this term. The strike against Porto in the round of 16 match will go a little way to proving his quality is still there.
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With Chelsea missing a No.9 and questions being asked over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's whereabouts it is understandable that Lukaku is in the same equation. Without Tuchel at the club it remains to be seen if the 29-year-old would be open to yet another SW6 return.
This has been cleared up by Henry though. Speaking after the game he said, "We had a discussion when he went to Chelsea. I told him he's going to find it difficult to play there because of the way Thomas Tuchel liked to play.
"Rom likes to stay where he is. Feed him, play him in early and he'll try to bully you. He was a different type of man to what Tuchel wanted. Is he going to fit what Potter's trying to do? And what does he want to do? I don't think he wants to go back. He wants to stay at Inter."
Potter has used fixed strikers to pin defences with their physical presence before but that is the opposite of what Lukaku wants, according to his national team coach. There is the ongoing question over the former Brighton man's own future though, amid suggestions he may soon lose his job.
In an intriguing outcome, it is Tuchel that is the second favourite to replace him. Although the chances of the German being back in the hotseat at Stamford Bridge anytime soon are extremely unlikely it does point out obstacles on the horizon for Lukaku regardless.
If, by any chance, Tuchel was to return then Lukaku's chances of joining him would be as slim as ever but should Potter keep his spot as head coach then there is always a chance.
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