Transfer Centre

Romelu Lukaku 'to return to Chelsea on Tuesday'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 16 July 2023

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly due to return to Cobham for pre-season on Tuesday as his team work on his prospective move to Juventus.

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly set to report back at Cobham on Tuesday, one day after the Blues have jetted off to the USA for their pre-season tour.

The Belgium international is widely expected to be cut from the ranks in the coming weeks, having failed to live up to his £97.5m price tag over the past two seasons.

Just a few months after his lucrative return to Stamford Bridge, Lukaku conducted a bombshell interview with Italian media, opening up on his struggles adapting to Thomas Tuchel's system and desire to return to Inter Milan.

The cash-strapped Nerazzurri could not facilitate a permanent return, but Lukaku was given the green light to head back to San Siro on loan for the 2022-23 campaign, during which he scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in 37 matches.

Both Inter and Lukaku were believed to have been keen on a permanent reunion, but the Nerazzurri have now pulled out of the race after learning of the striker's negotiations with Juventus.

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 24, 2023 © Reuters

Inter are reported to have been left furious with Lukaku's decision, and the Old Lady are now considering the Belgian as a possible replacement for Dusan Vlahovic.

According to journalist Matt Law, Lukaku will make his return to Chelsea's training ground on Tuesday and will therefore not form a part of the Blues' USA tour squad.

Law adds that Lukaku was initially not planning to return to Chelsea at all, but he is now required to build up his match fitness as Juventus try to finalise a move for the attacker.

All of Lukaku's family, agents and his lawyer are said to be fighting tooth and nail to force the striker's exit from Stamford Bridge for the second time, having first departed for Everton in the summer of 2014.

During his first spell at Chelsea, Lukaku failed to find the back of the net in 15 appearances, but he came up with a respectable 15 goals and three assists from 44 outings during the 2021-22 season.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku reacts in August 2022 © Reuters

The 30-year-old was only a bit-part player during Inter's run to the Champions League final, though, failing to start a single continental contest for Simone Inzaghi's side.

As well as Lukaku, fellow attacking duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Hakim Ziyech are not expected to board the plane to North America amid their own exit talks.

Ziyech has already seen a move to Al-Nassr break down over a failed medical, but the Moroccan is still expected to find a new stomping ground before the summer window closes for business.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are reportedly insisting on selling Aubameyang to a Saudi Arabian club, as his wages are proving a stumbling block for European teams.

Mauricio Pochettino's side will kick off their pre-season with a showdown against National League champions Wrexham in North Carolina on Wednesday evening.