"We are very relaxed" - Mauricio Pochettino comments on Romelu Lukaku situation amid reports of Belgian getting back in Chelsea squad
Mauricio Pochettino has said that Chelsea are 'relaxed' about Romelu Lukaku's situation this summer.
The club re-signed Lukaku from Inter Milan in 2021 for £97.5 million, making him their then-record signing. However, he was shipped out on loan to Inter at the end of the season after he scored 15 times in 44 games across competitions.
For most of the summer under Pochettino's reign, Chelsea have actively looked to sell Lukaku permanently. There has been interest from Inter, Juventus and the Saudi Pro League, but nothing has materialized yet (h/t Football.London).
According to Gianluca di Marzio, Pochettino is open to speaking to Lukaku about a potential return to the first team. That could be a result of Chelsea failing to offload the Belgium international, who's currently training with the Blues' U21 team.
At his press conference on Thursday (August 24), the Argentine tactician mplied that Lukaku is still up for sale (via Nizaar Kinsella of the Evening Standard):
"At the moment, we are very relaxed and nothing happened. Nothing has changed."
He added (h/t @AbsoluteChelsea on X):
"I explain again. If his and club's wish is to find a solution, the player and club inform me to change. I will not move until the player or the club come to talk with me. It was before I arrived."
Lukaku, 30, still has three years on his contract at Stamford Bridge and is pocketing £325,000 in weekly wages (h/t Spotrac).
Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea need to be humble against Luton Town
Mauricio Pochettino has said that Chelsea will need to give due respect to Luton Town when the two teams meet in the league on Friday (August 25).
It's Luton's first season in the Premier League. Before the game at Stamford Bridge, 'Poch' said about the upcoming game (via Football.London):
"It is going to be a tough game. I think they are a strong team. They run really fast in transition and are strong in set pieces. We need to be humble and ready to match them in how they are going to be."
Both teams are in desperate need of a win. Luton's first Premier League game ended in a 4-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion. The Blues, meanwhile, drew 1-1 against Liverpool on the opening day before losing 3-1 to West Ham United at London Stadium.
The two teams last met in the FA Cup in March 2022, where the Blues won 3-2 in the last 16.