Chelsea make huge decision amid uncertainty over future of Lukaku

Chelsea were unable to build on their recent win over Bournemouth as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest on Saturday. 

The Blues fell behind early on as Taiwo Awoniyi opened the scoring, before a quick-fire second-half double by Raheem Sterling put the hosts back in front at Stamford Bridge.

Awoniyi then scored again, though, earning Forest a vital point in their battle to avoid relegation.

Chelsea have now won just five of their last 26 Premier League matches and sit 11th in the table, and this summer is expected to be one of huge change at Stamford Bridge.

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be appointed as the club’s next permanent boss, and it appears that those in charge also have big plans for the upcoming transfer window.

As per Fabrizio Romano, the Blues will try to sign a striker this summer regardless of what happens with Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian is currently on loan at Italian side Inter Milan but faces an uncertain future beyond the end of the current season.

Pochettino is expected to be appointed as the new Chelsea manager in the coming weeks

Romano claims that a decision on the striker’s future will be made in June, following the imminent appointment of Pochettino.

Lukaku, 30, spent time with Chelsea as a youngster and then returned to the club in the summer of 2021, having helped Inter to win the Serie A title the previous season.

His return to west London didn’t go to plan, though, as the Belgium international netted just eight league goals and was largely frozen out of the first team after a controversial interview with Italian media.

Following that, Lukaku was sent back on loan to Milan last summer, but his season so far has been plagued by injury and poor form.

So far, the former Manchester United man has scored just eight goals in 22 Serie A appearances, and it appears increasingly unlikely that he will remain at Inter beyond the end of the current campaign.

It is also claimed that Chelsea are yet to hold any talks with Lukaku or Inter, suggesting that the incoming Pochettino will be pivotal in deciding what happens to the striker.