ESPN pundit is totally convinced Potter will get rid of £325k-a-week Chelsea player

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Craig Burley is convinced that Romelu Lukaku won’t be back in the Chelsea squad next season under Graham Potter.

Lukaku was sent out on a season-long loan last summer to Inter Milan.

There’s been a change of management since at Stamford Bridge with Potter replacing Thomas Tuchel, but ESPN pundit Burley doesn’t think it will impact the 29-year-old’s future:

“I think worryingly for Chelsea, obviously they’ll go for a striker in the summer, but he (Lukaku) is effectively a better option than what they’ve got. I’m absolutely sure he’s not the option that this manager wants, or indeed if Chelsea change the manager that the new manager would want,” Burley told ESPN.

There will be a decision to make at the end of the season when Lukaku’s loan at the San Siro expires.

He’s still on a Chelsea contract that keeps him in West London until 2026, so the Blues will need to find a solution for him.

Shaun Wright-Phillips recently explained that he could see a way back at Chelsea for Lukaku, especially if Joao Felix joins the club.

However, we would be shocked to see the £325,000-a-week centre-forward back playing for the club next season.

It’s obvious that Potter’s line-up is crying out for a new No.9 next season, but perhaps Chelsea need to once again look into the inflated transfer market.

Lukaku has just four goals in 14 Inter Milan appearances so far this season, with injuries disrupting his return to Italy.

However, he did score in his side’s win over Porto last night in the first leg of a Champions League tie.

The career he’s enjoyed to date means you can’t question him as a goalscorer, but it’s hard to picture him performing a U-turn at Chelsea.

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