Lukaku ‘upset’ and ‘appalled’ as Chelsea stars plot escape

Matt Stead
Chelsea players Antonio Rudiger, Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech

The agents of some Chelsea players have contacted lawyers to assess their future options, but Romelu Lukaku has rejected the suggestion he wants to leave.

Chelsea face an incredibly uncertain future after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government over his links to Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

The club has been granted a special licence to continue operations in a limited manner until the end of May, theoretically allowing them to continue running until the end of the season if they have enough cash reserves.


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But the precariousness of the future has understandably led to concern within the dressing room.

An agent of one player has already aired their fears, asking: “How can they ban the club from selling players? Surely there are employment law implications for players who were due to leave now essentially being trapped?”

The Daily Telegraph now say squad representatives are ‘exploring potential escape routes’ in the case of ‘financial armageddon’, with lawyers queried over their employment rights in ‘a worst-case-scenario’.

It is said that wages ‘might have to go unpaid for two months’ for players to have “just cause” to cancel their contracts.

A 15-day notice period would be required before the termination.

Some have suggested that Chelsea may have to sell a number of players regardless of any impending takeover, just to balance the books.

Lukaku was among those linked with leaving and joining former club Inter Milan on loan, taking a pay cut in the process.

Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, as translated by Sport Witness, reported that his resolve to move back to Inter had ‘strengthened’ because of the developments, and the deal depended on Abramovich selling Chelsea and Marina Granovskaia leaving.

But in a separate Telegraph story, Lukaku is described as ‘angered’, ‘appalled’ and ‘upset’ by the claim.

The Belgian is intent on staying as he ‘believes it is time for everyone at Chelsea to stick together’. He does not wish to be seen as ‘exploiting’ the crisis at Stamford Bridge and instead wants to underline his loyalty.