Pochettino ‘offers’ to ‘reintegrate’ big-money Chelsea outcast after his ‘fall-out’ with Tuchel
Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly ‘offered to reintegrate’ Romelu Lukaku into Chelsea’s squad as the club look for a solution to their goalscoring woes.
Chelsea have been searching for a new permanent manager since they parted company with Graham Potter at the start of this month.
They have been linked with Luis Enrique and Julen Nagelsmann but it is looking increasingly likely that they will be appointing Pochettino. Talks between the manager and club have ‘significantly picked up’ and his move to Stamford Bridge could be formalised as early as ‘this week’.
If he takes over, one of Pochettino’s priorities will be to find a solution for Chelsea’s issues in front of goal. They have only managed to score 30 goals in 31 appearances this term.
Kai Havertz has often played as a makeshift striker with Armando Broja injured and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failing to live up to expectations.
One option for Chelsea is to bring back Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Inter Milan. It has been indicated that the Serie A giants are not planning to sign him permanently this summer.
The Telegraph are now reporting that Lukaku ‘would be offered a Chelsea lifeline under Pochettino’.
The striker ‘will be asked whether or not he wants to try to revive his Chelsea career’ after his ‘fall-out’ with former boss Thomas Tuchel, which led to his loan switch to Inter Milan. The report adds.
‘The club will hold talks with the player over his options and have not ruled out the possibility of the Belgian being reintegrated into the first-team squad if he is prepared to try to revive his Chelsea career.
‘Tuchel’s successor Graham Potter had already left the door open to the possibility of Lukaku making a summer return and it is unlikely Pochettino would object to such a scenario, given his history of working with all of the players at his disposal.
‘Chelsea’s priority this summer is to cut the squad, while only making a few quality additions if it proves possible. The biggest question marks hang over the striker and goalkeeper positions, but Pochettino may feel he can work with Lukaku, should he demonstrate the right desire, and Armando Broja, who has missed this season through injury.
‘Broja is yet to prove himself at Chelsea, but a certain Harry Kane had faced plenty of doubts over his big-club pedigree before being given his chance by Pochettino.
‘There is belief that, despite all their troubles this season, Chelsea’s outfield squad, albeit too large, is already well set up for Pochettino with right-back Malo Gusto and forward Christopher Nkunku committed to joining in the summer.’
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