Chelsea have an €85m problem that shows no sign of abating

If Chelsea didn’t already have enough problems on their plate at the moment, Romelu Lukaku is presenting them with an €85m headache that could add to their issues this summer.

The Belgian is absolutely persona non-grata at Stamford Bridge, hence why he was sent back out on loan last summer before Mauricio Pochettino had a chance to get his feet under the table.

Roma were the beneficiaries of a season-long arrangement with the Blues, but with that soon to come to an end and Chelsea believed to be steadfast in their desire for a €43m fee for the striker, the likelihood is that Lukaku will return to West London at the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign.

Romelu Lukaku to Saudi Arabia?

Given that he’s managed to notch 18 goals and four assists for the Giallorossi this season, per WhoScored, it’s clear that Daniele De Rossi would love to keep Lukaku, however, when wages are taken into account, this would bring the total package for the hit-man to an eye-watering €85m.

Gazzetta dello Sport note that this is too much for the club to bear, given that the player will be 31 years of age before the beginning of the new campaign.

Assuming that nothing changes between now and the summer, it brings the possibility of a move to the Saudi Pro League ever closer for Lukaku.

He famously turned down a move to the Emirates last summer one suspects because he believed he would have a number of other options to choose from.

As it turned out, Jose Mourinho became his knight in shining armour at the 11th hour and took him to the Italian capital.

If Roma do decide that they can’t afford to keep Lukaku his options are again limited, but one thing is crystal clear and that is that Chelsea don’t want to saddle themselves with an €85m problem this summer.