Lukaku & Chelsea - No preseason; no shirt number: Why season 2023/24 could be a write-off

COMMENT: It's a disaster. An absolute disaster. Romelu Lukaku and season 2023/24. He's fully fit. He's fully available. Yet you could argue it's already a write-off...

How can this happen? How could those around him let this happen? Indeed, how could Rom allow himself to get in such a state? We'll talk about the ins-and-outs of this fiasco soon enough. But just considering his current position, how does the big man expect to make any meaningful contribution this term?

He knows his body-type. He knows it's demands. And Rom knows what missing an entire preseason means for him and this campaign. How does he catch up? Where does he catch up? It'd be bad enough if we were talking about a Kai Havertz or Timo Werner. But Lukaku? Standing at 1.91m and built like a brick what's-it's-name? What chance has he given himself of making any meaningful impact this season?

And we're not talking about your average centre-forward here. This column has taken our shots at Rom. But there's no denying he lives in the same bracket as the best of his type anywhere in the world. On his day he can be unplayable. Unstoppable. A player, fit and in form, you wouldn't blink if he left Chelsea for a €100m. Yet, as of now, he's nowhere to be found. No shirt number at Chelsea. No place in the Cobham locker room. And no club lined up to end this fiasco. It's a disaster...

Does he have himself to blame? Sure. But you just wonder who now acts as his sounding board? Just what is he paying Roc Nation for? All the way from LA, they can do woke with the best of 'em. But guiding and offering meaningful football advice? Well, Rom now has his answer...

But it was Lukaku who spoke with Juventus in March. It was he who agreed terms immediately after the Champions