Mauricio Pochettino responds to Romelu Lukaku Chelsea return claims amid transfer exit links

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has shut down claims that the situation between himself and Romelu Lukaku hasn’t changed amid reports of a potential return to the first-team.

It comes after a rocky few years for the Belgian international after he completed a £97.5million return to Stamford Bridge under Thomas Tuchel. The striker got off to a good start, but illness and injury plagued his playing time back at Chelsea until an interview discussing a return to Inter Milan and slamming his manager’s tactics seemingly damaged relationships.

Lukaku wasn’t playing nearly as much and going into the next season, a loan deal was facilitated so he could make the move back to Inter. Over the year, the 30-year-old was in and out of the side, but managed to find a better run towards the end of the spell, which ended in a Champions League final.

However, coming back to London meant further uncertainty over his future as the Nerazzurri appear to have turned elsewhere in the market. A switch to the Saudi Pro League was rejected by the player, while a deal with Juventus appears to be a non-starter because of some tension due to club rivalry.

The head coach has denied such claims though, having fielded questions from the media in his pre-match press conference before Luton Town on Friday. He said: “No, the situation has not changed.”

When pressed on whether he could make a better impact on the first-team, with Raheem Sterling being used as an example this season, Pochettino replied: “Raheem, it is his credit not our credit. With Romelu, the situation was really clear. It was the wish between the player and the club to find a solution. If something changes, we will inform… If the player and clubs wish is to find a solution, it’s them. I’m not going to move until the club or the player want to talk with me. I accept the situation when I arrive.”