Romelu Lukaku tipped to quit Chelsea amid ‘rift’ with Tuchel – expert
Kevin Phillips fears Romelu Lukaku’s days at Chelsea “could be numbered”.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Premier League striker believes “there is a rift” between the 28-year-old and his manager Thomas Tuchel.
Lukaku was a second-half substitute on Saturday as the Blues were beaten 4-1 by Brentford at Stamford Bridge.
The £97.5million summer signing has fallen down the pecking order in 2022 and has not scored a league goal since 29 December.
A Chelsea source told Football Insider (2 April) that Tuchel is willing to offload Lukaku and Timo Werner this summer.
Lukaku’s contract runs until the summer of 2026.
When asked for his assessment of the striker’s future, Phillips told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs: “His days could be numbered.
“From the outside looking in, when you don’t play a striker who cost you that amount of money less than a year ago it doesn’t look good. When you bring him on with 20-odd minutes to go and you are losing the game…
“I know you want him to get the goals to get you back in it but it suggests to me that there is a rift there. I don’t think Lukaku and Tuchel see eye to eye.
“This has been lingering on for a while now. It looks like something might give and it could be Lukaku who pays the price. It will be interesting to see how this one unfolds.”
In other news, it can be revealed that a London club has made up their mind on signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin after a ‘huge’ update.