It's simple to neglect Romelu Lukaku was document signing for one of the best a part of 18 months earlier than the Blues signed Enzo Fernandez in January. Out on mortgage with and never even a daily there, the Belgian striker is in dire want of reinvigoration to revive his profession - and as he prepares to take over, might be simply the supervisor he must information him.
Pochettino already has one private success he can look again on his profession with delight, with the Argentine boss enjoying a vital half in Harry Kane's rise from a backup striker to the membership's all-time document goalscorer.
When he was sacked by Spurs 4 years in the past, Kane's emotional farewell message proved simply how influential he felt the 51-year-old had been on his profession.
“Gaffer. I’ll be perpetually grateful to you for serving to me obtain my goals,” Kane wrote on social media after Pochettino had been sacked by Tottenham in November 2019. “We’ve had some superb moments within the final 5 and a half years that I'll always remember. You had been my supervisor however my buddy as properly and I thanks for that relationship."
Now, with Chelsea nonetheless struggling for targets and in determined want for a brand new No 9, Lukaku might return to Stamford Bridge this summer time with a lifeline to show his Stamford Bridge nightmare round.
It's clear the Belgian might nonetheless have a play to half beneath Pochettino, a supervisor who has been harm by his targets earlier than, with little or no competitors for the central striker position. As a goal man with immense power and a thunderous left foot, Chelsea might do quite a bit worse than going again to their former document signing.
Kai Havertz has been Chelsea's high goalscorer this season with 9 in all competitions, the identical tally Lukaku has managed on mortgage with Inter. Lukaku has additionally been hampered by damage on the San Siro this season and has solely made 15 begins within the Serie A, scoring six targets in 21 appearances. All six of his appearances within the Champions League have come from the bench, however the Belgian has nonetheless managed to bag thrice for the Italian outfit.
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There may be little from Lukaku's first season to recommend he could be extra prolific, having scored solely eight instances in 26 video games in his first marketing campaign in 2021-22. But when there's a boss with the man-management abilities who can inject confidence and get him firing, it's Pochettino.
His phrases of affirmation and reward will go well with a participant of Lukaku's fragile ego and by giving him an opportunity to impress within the centre ahead position, it might be an enormous leap of religion within the striker. He might not have the identical artistic thoughts as Kane, however on his day, there aren't many extra deadly strikers on the earth.
For Chelsea, Pochettino serving to Lukaku rediscover his type is unquestionably a less expensive different to signing £100m-rated Kane, and even Benfica star Goncalo Ramos.
And if Inter Milan determine towards taking over the choice to signal him completely, it might be a case of third time fortunate for Lukaku in west London.