Thomas Tuchel has insisted Romelu Lukaku’s agent seeking talks with Chelsea’s new owners will not prove an FA Cup final distraction.
Lukaku’s agent Federico Pastorello told Italian press he will aim for talks with Chelsea’s prospective new owner Todd Boehly, once the US magnate’s takeover is complete.
Lukaku has appeared unsettled at Chelsea ever since admitting in a Sky Italia interview in late December that he was unhappy at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgium striker apologized for those comments and has fought to rebuild his position at Chelsea ever since, and is now the Blues’ top goalscorer with 15 strikes in all competitions.Lukaku has fired three goals in his last two Chelsea outings, but will be battling to start Saturday’s FA Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley.
Tuchel remained calm about the wider situation though, ahead of the Liverpool battle.“If he plans to talk with the owner maybe it’s not his plan to talk with me, so fair enough,” said Tuchel.“Let’s see if he gets a meeting and he can get to talk, that’s his right.“We will talk to anybody, to any party and we will evaluate any situation of any player, including Romelu’s.“For me it’s not a distraction and hopefully for everybody who works for the team, and the player himself also.”
Tuchel’s striker selection decision appears likely to come down to a straight choice between Lukaku and Germany forward Kai Havertz for the central role.
Asked if the two could both start however, Tuchel replied: “I can also play both although they lack a bit of a feeling of a perfect fit together.“But listen, Romelu played lately and scored lately and did everything to stay on the pitch. So it will be our final call tomorrow morning.”
Chelsea lost February’s Carabao Cup final to Liverpool only on the finest of margins, 11-10 in a penalty shoot-out that ended with the goalkeepers striking on goal themselves.
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