‘The worst’: Sky pundit says Chelsea did something utterly ‘ridiculous’ in the transfer market

Add as preferred source on Google

Jamie O’Hara has brutally labelled Chelsea’s transfer for Romelu Lukaku last summer as “the worst Premier League signing ever”.

Lukaku cost a near-£100million (£97.5million) during last summer’s transfer window when Chelsea re-signed him from Inter Milan.

Most expected the Belgian centre-forward to be the final piece of the jigsaw in the Blues XI, but it turned out to be a turbulent individual campaign for him.

The 29-year-old, who came under intense scrutiny for his infamous interview with Sky Italia halfway through the season, found himself in and out of Chelsea’s starting line-up. He finished the season with 15 goals across all competitions, netting only eight times in the Premier League.

As a result, it’s no surprise to see Lukaku is strongly linked with an exit in this current summer window. It’s been reported a deal has been accepted that will see him return to Inter Milan on loan next season.

Lukaku the worst Premier League signing?

O’Hara, who was talking as a pundit on Sky Sports, has been firm with his assessment of the Lukaku transfer saga.

He thinks Chelsea did something “ridiculous” in the transfer window by forking out a club-record sum for the striker.

“Probably the worst Premier League signing ever. He hasn’t even been at Chelsea a year and they paid £100million for him – ridiculous,” O’Hara said.

He added: “I would have kept him. I would have got my arm around him and said ‘we need Lukaku at his best this is a new era with new people’ and Thomas Tuchel should have done better to keep him on side.”

New era

Chelsea’s new ownership will immediately be showing a ruthless streak by offloading Lukaku, albeit only on a loan basis to start with.

It’s clear Tuchel couldn’t find a tune out of him last season, so the Blues manager won’t be forced to go through another year trying to solve a big dilemma in attack. He should see this as a huge sign of faith from the owners.

This is a move that seems like a no-brainer for all parties involved, too.

Keep up to date with all the latest Chelsea news and opinion by following The Chelsea Chronicle’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.