Another summer transfer window, and yet another move for Romelu Lukaku could be in the offing as he’s tipped with a return to Inter Milan.
Having made his return to Chelsea last summer, the Blues’ decision to splash out nearly £98million on the former Manchester United striker is looking like one of the most expensive mistakes in football history. Lukaku’s return to the Premier League has certainly not gone to plan.
The Belgium international managed just eight goals in 26 league appearances during the 2021/22 campaign, and fell out of favour with Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. Lukaku’s off-field antics haven’t helped his cause, with that infamous interview — in which he declared his intentions to return to Inter — going down badly with the Stamford Bridge faithful.
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He looks as though he could be about to get his wish though, with reports suggesting Lukaku could be set to return to the San Siro on loan. Should he head back to Italy, it will leave plenty of questions of why his last two spells in England haven’t worked out.
Lukaku’s situation at Chelsea will sound all-too familiar to United fans. While goals have rarely been a problem for the 29-year-old, he has seemingly struggled to adapt to the systems in place at both Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggested as much when Lukaku left United for Inter in 2019. “Of course Rom has a good record and statistically he’s one of the top number nines around when you want to play with that kind of striker, a target man,” Solskjaer said.
“It was time now for Rom to go because I think we got a good deal, he’s happy, so I think both parties ended that deal as it should be. Rom was injured for a while this pre-season and didn’t participate, so I just hope for him he’ll get a good start at Inter Milan.”
Solskjaer’s summation will certainly resonate with Chelsea and Tuchel, who have had to deal with the same issues United faced in trying to fit Lukaku into their way of playing. With a return to Italy potentially on the cards, it raises questions over his suitability for the top teams in the Premier League.
While Solskjaer’s verdict on Lukaku’s time at United certainly rings true, his prediction for life without the Belgian hasn’t aged as well. “I’m very confident that we’ll get goals from Martial and Rashford. Dan James will create and Jesse Lingard will get more,” the former United boss added.
Martial could join Lingard in leaving United this summer, while James departed for Leeds 12 months ago.
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