Romelu Lukaku ‘certain’ to quit Chelsea with Thomas Tuchel ‘fuming’ – pundit
Romelu Lukaku is “certain” to leave Chelsea this summer after yet more comments from his camp on the eve of the FA Cup final loss against Liverpool on Saturday (14 May).
That is the view of former Leeds striker Noel Whelan, who was speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 29-year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge.
In an interview with La Repubblica (13 May), Lukaku’s agent Federico Pastorello suggested the Belgian striker has a “problem” at Chelsea and hinted at showdown talks at the end of the season to decide his future.
The former Man United hitman spoke out on Instagram to distance himself from the comments, claiming: “Never ever will I let someone speak for me”.
Lukaku gave a notorious Sky Italy interview last year (2021) in which the striker went public with his unhappiness about game time and revealed he would have “100 per cent” stayed at Inter Milan if he was offered a new contract.
Whelan claimed Tuchel will look to move the 29-year-old on even if he decides to stay at Stamford Bridge.
“I don’t think players or their agents should be coming out and saying that sort of thing in the middle of a season, let alone a cup final,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“Thomas Tuchel must be absolutely fuming. We know the likes of Rudiger and Christensen are leaving with the sanctions taking their toll – but to have this sort of thing as well, it really won’t help.
“It’s a real distraction. He’s rumbling and grumbling in the background – even when there’s an FA Cup up for grabs.
“He’s certain to leave at the end of the season, for me.
“I’m not sure Tuchel would want him around even if he were to back down.”
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