‘It’s weird’: Gary Lineker says 28-year-old Chelsea player is definitely struggling

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Gary Lineker claims Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku has fallen into the “weird” pattern of a number nine really struggling at Stamford Bridge.

It’s been quite the plagued shirt number for the Blues for much of the past couple of decades.

Lukaku, who joined for a club-record £97.5million in the summer, has struggled with the weight of the number nine kit.

The 28-year-old striker has contributed with 12 goals in all competitions so far this season, but it’s a damning outcome that he’s lost his starting position in the last month under manager Thomas Tuchel.

For Chelsea, the likes of Mateja Kezman, Chris Sutton, Gonzalo Higuain flopped in the No.9. You can throw Alvaro Morata and Hernan Crespo into the category of ex-Blues number nines that didn’t live up to expectation, too.

Lineker thinks Lukaku is the latest to be hit with this Chelsea jinx:

“That’s starting to be a thing now, that Chelsea jinx for strikers. There’s been a few. Chris Sutton struggled, Lukaku is struggling again, Crespo. It’s weird, isn’t it? It’s a nice one though, if you don’t do it, you can just go it’s not my fault,” Lineker said.

Maybe next Chelsea ST should ask for No.10

Christian Pulisic wears the number 10 shirt number right now at the Bridge, but perhaps the next striker that joins for a marquee price should kindly ask him for his number to help avoid the No.9 curse. The Blues have a rich modern history of No10s with the likes of Eden Hazard, Joe Cole and Juan Mata.

Unfortunately, Lukaku isn’t proving to be a near-£100million striker since re-signing from Inter Milan at the start of the season.

There has been a few important contributions for him and there is no doubt about his ability as a goalscorer, However, his all-round game and impact must improve to make Tuchel’s XI every week.

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