Chelsea star 'training alone' as club try to force through exit

Chelsea’s £97.5million striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly training on his own while his team-mates enjoy a pre-season tour in the United States, with the hope that a permanent transfer can finally be sealed.

Lukaku has spent his last two seasons on loan in Italy with Inter Milan and then Roma, seemingly not in Enzo Maresca’s plans for the new season despite scoring 13 Serie A goals in 32 games in 2023/24.

Italian outlet Calciomercato claim that Napoli are now leading the race for the Belgian. He is currently waiting for the two teams to settle on a transfer fee and is working on his fitness individually, having agreed personal terms with Antonio Conte’s outfit over a potential reunion with the Italian boss.

A move is thought to be dependent on Victor Osimhen’s sale amid interest from the Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi Pro League sides. Lukaku has been specifically requested by Conte as a replacement, with the striker keen to maintain his fitness despite being left out of Chelsea’s pre-season plans.

Instead forwards Nicolas Jackson, Armando Broja and Marc Guiu have been chosen by Maresca to travel Stateside. Though results have not gone to plan after a 2-2 draw with Wrexham and a 4-1 defeat to Celtic across the Atlantic Ocean.

Lukaku scored eight Premier League goals in 26 appearances during his sole season at Stamford Bridge following a big-money move from Inter, but his time at the club is set to come to an end this summer if Osimhen moves on from Napoli.

Working with Conte again is likely to appeal to Lukaku, who has previously raved about working with the 2016/17 Premier League winner. “I remember the first two weeks when I came, I spoke to my agent and said, ‘I’m suffering a lot in training because I never did this type of work’,” he told Sky Sports in 2020.

“But Conte is always there at the sidelines encouraging every player to do the work. When I was looking around me no one was moaning, everyone was getting on with it.

“So for me it was something special because sometimes coaches are on the sidelines making jokes because you can’t do it. But he is there on the sideline wanting you to do more, encouraging you to do more.

“It can be as hard as you imagine, but no player will give up because he will give you that energy to keep going. That shows in the intensity on the pitch.”

Chelsea could make a deal happen by striking a deal for Osimhen, who they have been linked with extensively and would open up Lukaku’s sale, but a swap deal has already been quashed by the Nigerian forward’s agent.