Chelsea could solve Lukaku dilemma with sensational swap deal for former star

Chelsea’s good run of form came to an end on Saturday as they were beaten 2-0 by West London rivals Brentford. 

Prior to the Bees’ arrival at Stamford Bridge, Mauricio Pochettino’s side had beaten both Fulham and Burnley, and drawn against Arsenal in their previous three Premier League games.

The Blues were expected to continue their strong form, but goals from Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo gave Thomas Frank’s side a hugely impressive victory and lifted them above Chelsea in the top flight table.

Next up for Pochettino’s side is a potentially crucial London derby against the Argentine’s former side Tottenham Hotspur, who currently sit top of the table.

One of Chelsea’s biggest problems so far this term has been scoring goals, with the Blues having netted just 13 times in the league this season.

In Italy, however, forward Romelu Lukaku has been in fine form for Roma, ever since joining the club on loan over the summer.

Now, it appears that the Belgian’s uncertain future could be resolved, with a former Chelsea star potentially making a sensational return to Stamford Bridge.

Abraham hasn’t featured for Roma so far this season

As per Calciomercato via The Mirror, the Serie A side are keen to keep Lukaku beyond the expiry of his loan deal and could therefore include former Chelsea star Tammy Abraham in a player swap deal.

Lukaku, who has previously spent time with Chelsea as a youngster, made a sensational £97.5 million return to the club in 2021 – having helped Inter Milan to the Serie A title – but struggled during the 2021/22 campaign.

After falling out with then-manager Thomas Tuchel, the Belgium international was sent back to Inter, but failed to impress and once again returned to Stamford Bridge at the end of last season.

He faced an extremely uncertain future, but eventually was sent back to Italy, this time joining Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Since then, he has scored eight goals in 11 matches across all competitions, and Roma are reportedly keen to extend his stay in the capital.

Abraham, meanwhile, is a product of Chelsea’s youth academy and scored 30 goals in 82 games for his boyhood club, before falling out of favour and joining Roma in the summer of 2021, when Lukaku returned to the Premier League club.

He scored 27 times in his first season in Rome, but suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the final day of last term and therefore hasn’t featured since.

The report claims that, while Chelsea will only demand around £37 million for Lukaku, their Italian counterparts could offer England international Abraham as a swap deal in order to avoid paying a fee.