Chelsea star unlikely to play for club again

Christian Pulisic became the latest player to leave Chelsea this summer as he joined AC Milan on Thursday. 

The Blues confirmed that the American had departed the club in a permanent deal, becoming the ninth senior player to leave Stamford Bridge so far this summer.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta, Mateo Kovacic, Kai Havertz, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy have all departed the club permanently so far, whilst David Datro Fofana has joined Union Berlin on a season-long loan deal.

Despite the exodus so far during this transfer window, it appears that Pulisic won’t be the last player to leave this summer.

According to Football Insider, striker Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to play for the club again.

The Belgian spent last season on loan at Italian side Inter Milan and faces an extremely uncertain future, but the report claims that he is unlikely to return to the Blues after the most recent round of talks between the two clubs.

Inter are said to be hopeful of signing Lukaku permanently, just two years after they sold the player to Chelsea for a staggering £97.5 million.

Lukaku’s future remains uncertain

Lukaku, who had previously spent time at Chelsea as a youngster, returned to London after helping Inter to the 2020/21 Serie A title.

He scored just eight Premier League goals last season, though, and criticised then-manager Thomas Tuchel during an interview with Italian media.

That lead to the forward being sent back to Milan on loan, but he now faces an uncertain future with Inter and Chelsea yet to reach an agreement.

Last term, the Belgium international scored 14 goals in 37 matches across all competitions for Inter.

Lukaku himself is said to be keen on the idea of joining Inter permanently, and the striker has been told not to return to Chelsea’s Cobham training ground until next Monday, despite the majority of the squad having already returned.

Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are also among those that have been told to delay their return.