Lukaku ‘is NOT planning to return to Chelsea training’ amid transfer exit

Romelu Lukaku’s desire to turn his Inter Milan loan move into a permanent one will see him reportedly stay away from Chelsea tomorrow.

The Blues had given the Belgian striker July 12 as a return date for him to join up with new boss Mauricio Pochettino.

But the Telegraph report that Lukaku has no interest in going back to Chelsea and will instead hold out to see if Inter can successfully negotiate a deal to keep him, something they have so far failed to do with Chelsea looking for a fee of around £40million.

Pochettino was quizzed on if Lukaku, who rejoined Chelsea in 2021, ironically from Inter, in a then club-record £97m move, had a future at the club should he turn up to training.

He said: ‘I think the personal situations all the parties know what we think. In that case he needs to come back on the 12th or 13th [July] to be part of the squad and start pre-season.

‘When the player arrives the first thing they are doing is to come to my office to see me and say hello. That is what I expect if he is still a Chelsea player.’

Lukaku has routinely found life tough in west London, most recently falling by the wayside having failed to adapt to the style of Thomas Tuchel.

He managed just eight Premier League goals and his relationship with fans deteriorated when he gave an interview to Sky Italia revealing his desire to go back to Inter.

Lukaku would eventually wind back up at the San Siro, scoring 14 goals in 37 games last season.

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