Tottenham hold ‘exploratory talks’ with Chelsea over signing outcast; Pochettino makes telling admission
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku
Mauricio Pochettino has shared his thoughts on Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, with Tottenham considering a move for the Belgium international.
Lukaku spent last season on loan with Inter Milan where he helped the Italian side reach the Champions League final and achieve a third-place finish in Serie A.
The 30-year-old has generally scored goals wherever he’s played throughout his career apart from Chelsea, despite the London club spending £97.5m on him in 2021.
It now seems Lukaku isn’t in Pochettino’s plans for this season, with the Blues seemingly desperate to offload him. Tottenham are one of the clubs who have an interest in signing the striker.
This is despite them being desperate to bring in a new striker. Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have been signed this summer, but the latter has just picked up a knee injury that will keep him out for the foreseeable future.
Lukaku would prefer to join a Serie A club this summer, with Roma recently registering an interest in him.
Tottenham, however, have recently held talks over signing the centre-forward this summer.
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Tottenham ‘hold talks’ over signing Lukaku
According to the Sunday Express (as cited by Sky Sports News) Tottenham have held ‘exploratory talks with Chelsea over a possible move for Lukaku.’
As mentioned, the striker has had a good goal-scoring record throughout his career. Last season, he scored 14 goals in 37 appearances for Inter, as well as making seven assists.
Tottenham are currently on the hunt for a replacement for Harry Kane, who signed for Bayern Munich for £100m. Their search has now reportedly led them to Lukaku.
Gent striker Gift Orban is another option, so Ange Postecoglou will have to decide between the two players.
Amid links to Tottenham, Pochettino has given his thoughts on the ongoing Lukaku saga. In a recent interview, he was asked whether he could be reintegrated into the first team.
“The situation [with Lukaku] was clear before we arrived between the club and the player,” he said. “For us, there’s nothing to do.
“It’s not only one side. It’s two sides. It’s two sides to try to find the best solution. You cannot put it only on the club, the situation. It’s both sides.
“The situation is where it is because of two sides. It’s like when you have a player in or a player out. It’s because both sides arrive at an agreement.
“The situation is how it is, we cannot change. We were informed before we signed, the situation on every single player, and after we signed we had the squad we had. I think it is so clear, nothing changed.
“If there’s something to inform, the club will inform.”
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