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Romelu Lukaku is going nowhere this summer but striker proved just how big he could be for Chelsea’s future with goals


TODD BOEHLY has so far paid roughly £2.125 billion for every Romelu Lukaku goal.

But they have been so rare from Chelsea’s wayward striker that it seems a relative bargain.

Romelu Lukaku scored his first Premier League goal since December 29 against WolvesCredit: EPA
The striker’s second goal was a gorgeous curling effort after he had opened the scoring from the spotCredit: Reuters
Todd Boehly was in the stands to see Chelsea blow a two-goal lead and draw 2-2Credit: EPA

Incoming owner Boehly was in the stands at Stamford Bridge for the first time since news emerged that a £4.25bn deal to buy Chelsea has been agreed.

Assuming the club shop is soon allowed to re-open once sanctions are lifted, the ‘I Was There’ T-shirts will be flying off the shelves to help recoup some of that hefty investment.

For it’s been a long time coming to see the £97.5million Belgian finally find his feet in front of goal.

More than four months in fact since Chelsea’s record signing last scored in the Premier League.

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And it was plain to see the relief on his face once the first went in, to the extent it lifted himself, the rest of the team, the whole stadium out of the doldrums for the final half an hour or so.

Which underlines how important this player is to Chelsea’s future plans under the new ownership. 

It has been a miserable return to England for Lukaku.

Frustration at the manager’s tactics, injury, pining for life back at Inter Milan, all adding up to see a world class striker look distinctly third rate.

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Tuchel’s own judgement in the transfer market has even been questioned over the decision to lump the best part of a hundred million quid on a forward who has played just like one – a lump.

There is no way Lukaku can be sold this summer. He cost the club and earns too much for Chelsea to take a big loss on him.

So it is up to the player and Tuchel to get the best out of him.

That was there to be seen in the second half once the deadlock had been broken from the penalty spot.

It took several agonising minutes for ref Peter Bankes to award the spot kick after consulting VAR, deciding Roman Saiss had legged Lukaku over.

After planting the shot firmly in the back of the net, he even appeared several inches taller and a couple of stones lighter.

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The second goal followed less than 120 seconds after the first and the way Lukaku watched the ball roll past his right shoulder then unleashed a rocket of a shot into the bottom corner was a moving image of all that pent up frustration being released.

Chelsea blew their two-goal lead in front of the watching Boehly and in spite of the impressive Lukaku.

It is too early to say Lukaku has overcome all his problems in one go but maybe he can use this to find a more settled and secure future in the same way it is happening at boardroom level at Stamford Bridge.


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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