Out of favour Belgian centre-forward Romelu Lukaku could make a stunning return to the Premier League next season, with a club outside of the traditional top six. 

The Chelsea player, who is currently on loan at Italian giants Inter Milan, will not be making a permanent move to the San Siro, as the club’s CEO Giuseppe Marotta himself confirmed just over a week ago. ‘Beppe’ Marotta felt that they did not get nearly enough from Lukaku over the course of the season and the club will therefore not look to make the deal permanent. 

He also said that Lukaku was a shadow of his former self, who ripped apart defences in the Serie A, only a couple of years back in 2020. Although the Belgian has been getting occasional starts under Simone Inzaghi, he will return to Stamford Bridge on the completion of his loan tenure. Get the best betting odds on the Premier League only on Gclub.

Interestingly, Chelsea are also not interested in keeping the player on their books, and will be looking to sell him if a reasonable offer arrives. Notably, Aston Villa have been linked with Lukaku, as Ollie Watkins’ performance over the season has been underwhelming at best. The Englishman has shone in parts, but has not displayed the kind of goalscoring consistency that is desired of a centre-forward. 

Although not much can be said in defence of Lukaku’s recent record, his stats in the Premier League are quite impressive. A veteran of the league, having played for Manchester United, Everton, West Bromwich Albion, and Chelsea, Lukaku has 121 goals to his name in just 278 appearances. 

However, Lukaku will not be sold cheaply, with the Blues reportedly seeking a sum of €55 million from any suitors, about half of what they paid for him just 18 months ago. The sporty valuation might not attract much interest, especially considering that the striker will also demand a considerable wage. While the move to Villa Park is unlikely, Unai Emery’s men could land a very good deal should there be a meeting of the minds with respect to the transfer fee. Follow more updates on this story only on Gclub Sports.