Chelsea have confirmed that they won’t be loaning Belgian teenager Romelu Lukaku out next season.
The 19-year-old has been arguably the best young player of the season for West Bromwich Albion, scoring 13 goals in a great loan spell.
Despite calls from the Chelsea faithful in January to recall the teenage striker, interim manager Rafa Benitez refused to budge.
West Bromwich Albion boss told The Daily Mirror “He’s a Chelsea player. He belongs to Chelsea and he will go back there in the summer.
“I have never thought it would be possible Chelsea would let him come back next season. He came on a season-long loan and we’re grateful we’ve got him.”
Romelu Lukaku has been sensational for the Baggies this season and some have compared the Belgian to Ivory Coast and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.
Lukaku’s pace, strength and direct approach to the oppositions goal is a trio of abilities that not many players have.
He can play either as a loan striker (a target man, if you like) or in a partnership.
As a lone striker he has the ability to hold the ball up against even the meanest of defences, likewise when playing in a partnership, but in this case he has the talent and skill to assist.
If Chelsea had listened to their supporters in January, the season they are currently experiencing (stumbling through the poor man’s Champions League (Europa League)) might’ve been alot different.