Enzo Maresca must offload Chelsea flop after 4/10 Euro 2024 display
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Enzo Maresca’s Mission: Leading Chelsea Back to Premier League Glory
Enzo Maresca has taken on the challenge of guiding Chelsea back to the summit of the Premier League after his recent move from Leicester City. The Italian coach arrives at Stamford Bridge following a successful stint with the Foxes in the Championship, where he secured the league title in his debut season as a senior manager.
Chelsea’s Current State and Player Turnover
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Maresca steps into a team on the rise, with Chelsea finishing in a Europa League spot despite a rocky start to the season, winning just one of their first six Premier League matches in 2023/24. He inherits a squad brimming with talent, thanks to owner Todd Boehly’s 22 first-team signings over the past two years, with more acquisitions anticipated in the upcoming transfer window.
However, to manage this influx and comply with Premier League Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, Chelsea will need to offload some players. One player almost certainly facing an exit is Romelu Lukaku, who has spent the last two years out on loan.
Lukaku’s Disappointing Chelsea Stats
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Romelu Lukaku rejoined Chelsea in the summer of 2021 for a hefty £97.5 million but has struggled to justify the price tag, netting only 15 goals in 44 appearances. Following two loan spells in Serie A with Inter Milan and Roma, where he scored 35 goals, Lukaku has not shown enough to earn a place in Maresca’s plans.
Despite his high transfer fee, Chelsea will look to recover as much money as possible by selling Lukaku, allowing him a fresh start after a lackluster second stint in the Premier League. Lukaku has also been called up for Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign, but his performance has been underwhelming so far.
Lukaku’s Poor Performance for Belgium
Belgium kicked off their Euro 2024 journey against Slovakia, a match they were expected to win. However, Lukaku delivered a disappointing performance in Belgium’s shocking 1-0 loss. Journalist Francois Plateau described his play as “terrible.”
Lukaku played the entire match but had only 27 touches, averaging one touch every 3.3 minutes. His passing was equally poor, with just 14 successful passes and five instances of lost possession. Additionally, he strayed offside twice and missed three significant scoring chances. Two of his goals were also disallowed for offside and a foul.
As a result, Lukaku received a 4/10 rating from Goal, the lowest among Belgian players, marking an afternoon he’d likely want to forget.
The Path Forward for Chelsea
Given Lukaku’s declining performance, Chelsea must consider selling him. While they will undoubtedly incur a loss from their initial investment, they could still secure around £30 million from his sale. This sum could be reinvested in a new striker who could become the focal point of Maresca’s revamped Chelsea squad.
By offloading Lukaku, Chelsea can better balance their books, comply with FFP regulations, and strengthen their squad with fresh talent, positioning themselves for a successful Premier League campaign under Maresca’s leadership.