Joe Cole has claimed that Tottenham transfer target, Romelu Lukaku, is ‘without a shadow of a doubt’ fighting for his Chelsea career, as he told ITV Sport.
On Sunday, as Chelsea reached yet another FA Cup final, Lukaku, who came off the bench, missed yet another guilt-edge chance.
Ever since his record-breaking return to Stamford Bridge, the 28-year-old has struggled to recapture the form he produced when winning the Serie A title in Inter Milan colours with Antonio Conte last season.
Well, if he were to leave Chelsea this summer, there are suggestions that Tottenham could be his most likely destination and a possible reunion with Conte – it would be quite the surprise, no doubt.
But that’s the last thing Chelsea’s £97.5 million signing will be thinking about, as Cole shared in thoughts on what’s going wrong for him.
“Without a shadow of a doubt (playing for his Chelsea career),” said Cole. “When he came into the club at the start of the season, people were thinking about him as the missing piece in the jigsaw.
“That target man. It didn’t happen for him. He got an injury. It has just got away from him.
“But it can come back as quickly as it can go. If he scores last week against Real Madrid. If he scores (against Palace in the FA Cup semi-final) to take us to the cup final, then he could be starting in the final.
“And all of sudden, things can look rosy. Football can change in one game. But he has to change it.”
In usual circumstances, Tottenham buying one of Chelsea’s players is a big no-no, especially one they paid so much money for.
But, with Conte in the dugout, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he manages to pull a rabbit out of the hat.
The Italian will certainly have some pull in the summer, it’s just a case of how much and who can he lure to Hotspur Way.
Spurs have Harry Kane on their books and will feel that someone like Lukaku isn’t needed, but crazier things have happened in football before.
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