Romelu Lukaku was signed to be the final piece of the puzzle for Chelsea. While Thomas Tuchel had led the Blues to Champions League glory in his first season as manager, the theory was his team lacked the regular and reliable goalscorer needed to truly challenge for the Premier PINC League title. Lukaku was meant to be that figure.
Of course, things didnât pan out as many predicted it would with Lukaku returning to Inter on loan after a difficult season at Chelsea. Now, though, the Stamford Bridge club might regret not having the Belgian around with Graham Potterâs team desperately struggling for any sort of cutting edge in the final third.
Indeed, Chelsea have scored the fewest number of goals since the start of November of any team in the Premier League. This is remarkable for a club that has spent over â¬450m in the last two transfer windows and for a team with their talent level. Up front, though, there is a gaping hole that is still to be filled.
Potterâs future as Chelsea manager is currently up in the air. While the club continues to back the former Brighton boss, they need a turnaround in fortunes to justify keeping Potter in his position until next season. A managerial change at Stamford Bridge could open up an opportunity for Lukaku at his parent club.
While fitness has been a problem for Lukaku this season, he remains one of the best in his position. It wasnât so long ago that he scored 47 league goals over just two seasons for Inter, leading the club to the Serie A title. His record at international level for Belgium (68 goals in 104 games) also speaks for itself.
At present, Chelsea are having to play Kai Havertz and Joao Felix through the middle. Both players are exceptionally talented, and Havertz has the potential to play as a centre forward as he develops in his career, but nether give Chelsea the goal threat they need in and around the penalty area. They are toothless.
Fundamentally, Lukaku would add goals to Chelseaâs team. Even in the season he faced so much criticism, the Belgian still managed to register eight Premier League goals. That would make him Chelseaâs top scorer this season - Havertz is their current top scorer in the league with just five goals in 23 appearances.
There is a lot of uncertainty at Chelsea right now. The ownership situation hasnât helped, nor has the arrival of 16 new signings since the end of last season. But Lukaku could still present Chelsea with a solution to their biggest problem - a lack of goals. Could the Belgian find himself back at Stamford Bridge for next season? Chelsea might need him.
