Romelu Lukaku is about to receive a second chance at Chelsea after a dismal return from injury last year.
Lukaku signed a five-year contract with Chelsea for over 100 million euros when he departed Inter Milan at the beginning of the 2021–2022 season.
After Diego Costa left the Blues, they had struggled to find a quality striker, and there was widespread belief that the Belgian could fill the void and allay those worries.
The team had just won the league title after a dominant season under Antonio Conte.
Despite a positive start under then-manager Thomas Tuchel, the 29-year-old quickly waned off by falling victim to the curse that is Chelsea’s number 9 shirt.
A dispute between him and Tuchel over an unauthorised interview led to a significant reduction in minutes as well.
He was shipped back to Inter Milan on loan, with the Italian giant’s non-committal on his long-term future. As the Telegraph now reports, Chelsea would be willing to welcome the burly striker back and give him a chance under incoming coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine is expected to be appointed as the new Chelsea coach, as it is always the norm with new bosses, sidelined players often get a new lease of life to prove themselves.
At the end of this season, he will have three more years on his current deal.
What Pochettino can offer Chelsea
At the same time, Pochettino’s lack of trophies during his first spell in England with Tottenham Hotspur has always been a consideration when judging his suitability to manage a top club.
However, it is belived he might be the answer to a struggling Chelsea side in dire need of an uplift.
After Nagelsmann and Enrique withdrew, and with Zinedine Zidane reportedly focused on Juventus, Pochettino was probably the only option Chelsea had.