FOOTBALL: Graham Potter seeks to talks with Chelsea outcast Romelu Lukaku

Graham Potter seeks to talks with Chelsea outcast Romelu Lukaku. Graham Potter is seeking clear the air talks with Romelu Lukaku and has not ruled out the possibility of offering the Chelsea outcast the chance to salvage his Stamford Bridge career.

The Belgium international returned to Chelsea over a year ago after failing to make the grade as a youngster during Jose Mourinho’s second spell at the club.

Lukaku was billed as the final piece in Thomas Tuchel’s jigsaw, charged with the responsibility of scoring the goals that would turn the Blues into a side capable of tussling for the Premier League title.

After an encouraging start, however, Lukaku lost his way and the faith of Tuchel who relegated the club’s record signing to a bit-part role during the second half of a frustrating campaign that ended in an FA Cup final defeat against Liverpool.

Lukaku, who had given a controversial interview mid-season in which he outlined his desire to return to Inter, was granted his wish when new owner Todd Boehly was prepared to take a major financial hit and sanction a loan move back to the Serie A club.

Chelsea moved in the final day of the transfer window to finally sing a like-for-like replacement in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but at 33 years of age he is likely to prove only a short term solution.

In any case, Tuchel’s sudden sacking and the appointment of Potter means Lukaku could yet have a future in the Premier League and will sit down for talks with the new Chelsea boss at the end of the season.

According to ESPN, the former Manchester United and Everton striker is keen to remain at Inter on a permanent basis but there is no option or obligation to sign as part of the existing loan agreement.

‘It’s fresh news. I don’t know what the effects will be,’ Inter chief Giuseppe Marotta told Sky Italia, reacting to Tuchel’s sacking earlier this month.

‘We absolutely want to get the best contribution out of Lukaku, and then at the end of the season we’ll sit down and discuss him with Chelsea.

Graham Potter seeks to talks with Chelsea outcast Romelu Lukaku. ‘I don’t know if a change of coaches means that his return is to be automatic, it’s difficult to predict today.’

Lukaku has scored once so far for Inter this term, missing their last two games through injury and remains a doubt for this weekend’s game against Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

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