Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly set to swoop for Chelsea flop Romelu Lukaku to rescue him from his nightmare return to Stamford Bridge.
Will Kylian Mbappe renew his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, or will the star striker join his childhood dream club Real Madrid? While fans eagerly await their answer, reports suggest the Ligue 1 leaders are readying themselves with Plan B if the 23-year-old chooses to move to Los Blancos. PSG are reportedly set to swoop Romelu Lukaku to rescue the Belgian from his nightmare return to Stamford Bridge - a move that has left fans of the club wondering if the Chelsea flop is the right choice for the team.
The Blues bought Lukaku for a club-record fee of 98 million pounds during the summer transfer window hoping that the striker could fire them to a Premier League title challenge. However, since he arrived in the west London club from Inter Milan, the 29-year-old has scored just five goals in Premier League, much to the disappointment of Chelsea fans.
The Belgium international also hit out at boss Thomas Tuchel and expressed his desire to return to the San Siro in an explosive interview with Sky Italia, which rocked Chelsea's season at the end of December 2021. He was axed from the squad for their next fixture against Liverpool and fined by the club before subsequently returning, but ever since that infamous interview, his struggles have been evident.
While Lukaku has got on the scoresheet in FA Cup and Club World Cup fixtures, the forward is yet to find the back of the net again in the Premier League. To make matters worse, the Belgian has been largely absent in games when used from the start and missed huge chances when they have come his way.
As a result, Lukaku is no longer a credible option to start matches for Tuchel, with the Chelsea boss preferring Kai Havertz in recent weeks. Those struggles mean that Chelsea could be open to selling the 29-year-old striker in the summer window. And now reports suggest the Blues might just find a buyer in PSG.
After yet another disastrous Champions League campaign, the Ligue 1 giants would hope to reset ahead of the next season. PSG will be eyeing to rope in a new star striker if Mbappe chooses to join Real Madrid. Reports suggest that other targets are proving difficult to bring in; hence Mauricio Pochettino's side is 'continuing discussions' with Lukaku's agent Mino Raiola.
Though the Belgium international's contract at Chelsea ends only in 2026, reports say Lukaku is ready to leave, with a move to the Parc des Princes 'gaining ground'. Reports add the striker could be available at a lower cost in the summer, with the Blues ready to sanction a loan deal with an option to buy.
Also read: Ligue 1: Should Mbappe stay at PSG or move to Real Madrid? Pochettino gives honest view
Lukaku has never played in the French top-flight, but the Ligue 1 giants reportedly believe that he could be 'invaluable'. Although the 29-year-old wishes to return to Inter Milan, the Serie A side appears to have other priorities, which means a move to PSG could perhaps end Lukaku's hellish Chelsea stay.
But is Lukaku the right replacement for Mbappe, who has scored 31 goals this season to fire PSG to the top of Ligue 1? The club's fans took to Twitter to express their views over the possible move of Chelsea's flop striker to join the ranks of Lionel Messi and Neymar, who seem to have struck sublime form and chemistry along with Mbappe.
Here's a look at some of the reactions doing rounds on the micro-blogging site:
Gossip that PSG want him.. BS. Who is going to pay over 100m for this slow moving lump. What an over rated . were crazy to pay 98m sterling for him.
— NorrisnotChuck (@Patrick18699071)If PSG fans can boo Messi, imagine what they will do to Lukaku😭 https://t.co/iSWzyr6HCp
— Emmanuel Drexzy🦅 (@emzhydo)Lukaku to PSG would be perfect.
Could still get good money for him too and they can cover his wages. https://t.co/Rp7ql9mGE8
Chelsea might want to move Lukaku on before they make a decision on Nunez. PSG are a genuine worry since they move fast after identifying a player.
Hopefully, United don't pull the 'sell before buy' card on ETH if/when he joins next season. https://t.co/FNyYQRfovG
I’m not really sure why Chelsea would want to spend big money on him if you believe Tuchel that Lukaku is staying. And I don’t know where Lukaku could go if he wanted to leave atm.
PSG makes sense. United makes sense. https://t.co/D2Sw33WdHw
Lol a lot of Chelsea fans voting and praying 🙏 for psg to come in for lukaku.
— RayWilliamAllsop #RaRa (@rayallsop1983)Lukaku was the man to be fully involved in the PSG comeback for United a few years back, if Lukaku plays, we can only hope for the same version!🙏🏻
— A1Chels (@A1Chels_)PSG should just sign lukaku 😂😂😂
— World Champion (@big_skippo)Nooooo. Que Lukaku regrese al Inter de Milán de donde nunca debió irse.
— Misael Flores (@Misa_Flores_64)Paris St-Germain are in talks to sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku just a year after the 28-year-old Belgium international cost the Blues £98M from Inter Milan. (But)
— ThinkLFCTV (@ThinkLFCTV)Lol a lot of Chelsea fans voting and praying 🙏 for psg to come in for lukaku.
— RayWilliamAllsop #RaRa (@rayallsop1983)PSG could be working to get someone like Raphinha who will work hard, create and score goals but it's Lukaku they are targeting. https://t.co/MSJTV5c4FE
— Nick's Pizza (@Kanyeti_)At least Werner works. Word is psg are in for Lukaku. Top choice- see ya!
I’ll take Borja back and Kai.