Chelsea concerned about £100 million striker’s World Cup absence

Six more sides begin their World Cup campaigns on Monday, with both England and Wales in action.

Qatar became the first ever hosts to lose their first match when they were beaten 2-0 by Ecuador on Sunday, leaving them in a precarious position in Group A.

Group B gets underway on Monday with England facing Iran before Wales go up against USA.

A number of the biggest stars from the biggest leagues across the world will be in action throughout the month-long tournament, but the injuries are already mounting up.

Sadio Mane, Timo Werner and Karim Benzema are among those who have already been ruled out through injury, as well as England duo Reece James and Ben Chilwell.

One other star that has been ruled out for the opening round of matches is Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku.

The striker is currently on loan at Inter Milan from Chelsea, but he is expected to miss Belgium’s first two games, against Canada and Morocco.

With that in mind, The Blues are reportedly worried that the forward’s lack of game time could hinder their chances of selling him next summer.

That’s according to The Evening Standard, who claim that Chelsea were hoping the forward would impress during the World Cup, to increase their chances of receiving a significant fee for the player.

Lukaku scored on his second debut for Inter Milan

Lukaku, 29, joined Chelsea from Inter last summer for a fee of £97.5 million, but his return to Stamford Bridge didn’t go to plan.

The striker struggled in front of goal and was largely used as a substitute following a controversial interview with Italian media, during which he criticised then-manager Thomas Tuchel.

He scored just 15 goals in 44 matches for The Blues, just eight of which were in the Premier League.

Chelsea therefore allowed the player to return to Inter Milan on loan this summer, but the striker’s move hasn’t gone to plan so far.

The Belgian has played just five times for the Serie A side so far this term, despite scoring in the second minute of his first game back in Italy.

Chelsea had hoped that, if the striker could impress at the World Cup, they would be able to recoup a higher percentage of their initial outlay on the player, however that plan has been scuppered by his injury.

The Premier League side are unlikely to change their mind on Lukaku’s future, with the striker almost certain to leave the club next summer.