Graham Potter refuses to rule out keeping Romelu Lukaku next season

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has refused to rule out the possibility of keeping Romelu Lukaku for the 2023-24 season.

The Belgium international returned to Chelsea for a second spell in 2021, joining from Inter Milan in a £97.5m transfer.

Lukaku scored 15 goals and provided two assists in 44 appearances for the Blues during the 2021-22 campaign.

However, the forward had a rocky relationship with former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel after Lukaku gave an interview to Italian TV, where he indicated that he was struggling in the German's system.

Lukaku was subsequently loaned back to Inter Milan last summer before Tuchel was sacked and replaced by Potter in September.

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Lukaku's return to Inter has been hampered by injuries, and as a result, he has struggled to find his best form, registering five goals and one assist in 19 competitive appearances.

There is an expectation that Lukaku will depart Stamford Bridge once again when his loan deal ends in the summer, with the 29-year-old keen to remain in Serie A.

However, when asked whether he would like to work with Lukaku next term, Potter appeared to keep the door open for a possible return.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's Premier League meeting with Aston Villa, Potter told reporters: "At the moment he is on loan at another club and it is important he finishes that off, finishes the season well and then we will have a decision to make in the summer.

"He is someone I admire a lot and like a lot. But again it is something we have to talk about in the summer."

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With over 30 players in their first-team squad, Chelsea are expected to sanction several departures in the summer to get numbers down and help comply with financial fair play rules.

Commenting on potential summer exits, Potter said: "The number of the squad is not optimal regardless of whatever competitions we are in. I think it's a normal part of club business that at the end of the season different things happen and people move on. Sometimes it is because the player needs more game time or there is a sale.

"In an ideal world (they'd go to another league) but it is never an ideal world and you have to deal with what you have to deal with.

"In the summer you make the decisions, do your business like everybody else does and accept you have to do what's right for this football club and not worry too much about anyone else, just focus on what we need to do."

Chelsea are currently sitting in 10th position ahead of the weekend's round of fixtures, with four points separating them from the top six.