ROMELU LUKAKU has reportedly made a dramatic transfer U-turn which could see him finally leave Chelsea on a permanent deal.
The misfit striker, 30, is currently on loan at Roma after a disastrous second spell at Stamford Bridge.
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The bizarre switch was the only one left available to Lukaku after he saw moves to Inter Milan and Juventus fall through.
Chelsea had hoped to sell him to a team in Saudi Arabia, having already offloaded Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly for big fees.
But Lukaku turned down the Middle Eastern move, worth £42million per YEAR, insisting he was still capable of cutting it at the highest level in Europe.
He has since gone on to score 10 goals in 25 league outings for Roma.
And Goal claims Lukaku has now changed his mind over a move to Saudi Arabia this summer.
The former Manchester United, Everton and West Brom striker remains desperate to leave Chelsea permanently.
He accepts this will be hard to do with another European club, with many still not willing to cover his wages despite taking a cut from £350,000-a-week to around £200k-a-week with a new deal last summer.
And should an offer from a Saudi side come in, Lukaku will now strongly consider it if it means exiting London for good.
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When asked about his future after producing two assists in Belgium’s 2-2 draw with England at Wembley on Tuesday, Lukaku cryptically said: “You’ll have to ask Chelsea.”
The Blues have already named their price for the hitman, inserting a £37m release clause into last summer’s contract.
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Lukaku was hailed as Chelsea’s saviour when he returned in a £100m transfer from Inter Milan in 2021.
The Belgian’s first period at Stamford Bridge, between 2011 and 2014, saw him fail to score in 15 appearances for Chelsea.
And hopes were high after he netted 64 times in 95 games at Inter, helping them win their first league title in 11 years.
But after a bright start, Lukaku launched a bizarre attack on then-boss Thomas Tuchel and the Blues, claiming he was unhappy with the tactics and that he wanted to rejoin Inter.
Lukaku ended up with just eight league goals that term and was duly granted his wish with a loan back to the San Siro.
But after struggling for fitness, while also managing just 10 Serie A strikes, Lukaku failed to secure a permanent switch or a second loan, opening the door for Roma to pounce last summer.
Romelu Lukaku’s career stats
Those numbers in full…
- Anderlecht, 2008-2012: 98 games, 41 goals
- Chelsea, 2011-2014: 15 games, 0 goals
- West Brom, 2012-2013: 38 games, 17 goals
- Everton, 2013-2017: 166 games, 87 goals
- Man Utd, 2017-2019: 96 games, 42 goals
- Inter Milan, 2019-2021: 95 games, 64 goals
- Chelsea, 2021-2024: 44 games, 15 goals
- Inter Milan, 2022-2023: 37 games, 14 goals
- Roma, 2023-2024: 36 games, 18 goals
- Belgium, 2010-2024: 114 games, 83 goals
- Trophies: Belgian Pro League (Anderlecht); Serie A, Italian Cup, Italian Super Cup (Inter Milan); Club World Cup (Chelsea)