Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku, Mauricio Pochettino Next Season

Mauricio Pochettino is set to offer Romelu Lukaku the chance to revive his Chelsea career next season. The Belgium international returned to Inter last summer but has managed just five Serie A goals during a frustrating season where he has also been hampered by injury problems. Lukaku’s preference is to remain in Italy but Inter currently have no plans to make the arrangement permanent. The Telegraph report that the club will hold talks with Lukaku over his future and have not ruled out the possibility of him being integrated into the squad under Pochettino. The former Tottenham manager is in advanced talks with the club after emerging as the favoured candidate for the job ahead of Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique and is unlikely to object to the possibility of Lukaku being given another chance to prove his worth at the club. Chelsea are planning to trim their bloated squad this summer but face a major problem up front with no recognised goal scorer in the squad. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored just three goals since returning to the Premier League last summer, is among the clutch of players set to leave with Armando Broja recovering from a long-term knee injury. Christopher Nkunku will join the club from RB Leipzig where he has enjoyed another prolific campaign with 17 goals in 29 appearances but the France international is not viewed as a natural centre forward, preferring a supporting striker role or coming in from wide. Pochettino meanwhile has already given an early assessment of the Chelsea squad, particularly those whose futures at the club are in question. The 51-year-old has also informed the club that the presence of homegrown talent within the group can serve a key role in building a winning culture in west London.