Romelu Lukaku’s Exit Isn’t The Only Thing That Will Change The Look Of Chelsea’s Attack

SportsMoney Romelu Lukaku’s Exit Isn’t The Only Thing That Will Change The Look Of Chelsea’s Attack Graham Ruthven Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I am a soccer writer based in the United Kingdom New! Follow this author to improve your content experience. Got it! Jun 29, 2022, 09:22am EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku and Chelsea’s head coach Thomas Tuchel shake hands at the end of the return .

. . [+] leg of the a UEFA Champions League 1/8 finals match between French soccer team LOSC Lille and English Chelsea FC, Wednesday 16 March 2022 in Lille, France.

BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images) BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images The common belief was that Romelu Lukaku would be the final piece of the puzzle for Chelsea. Thomas Tuchel made an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge, leading the club to Champions League glory just a few months after his appointment, but Chelsea seemingly needed a reliable goalscorer to lead the line. A year on and Lukaku is on his way back out of Chelsea with a return to Inter on loan expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

The Belgian, who cost £98m, scored just eight goals in 26 Premier PINC League appearances last season and was dropped to the bench for the final stage of the campaign. However, it’s not just Lukaku’s impending exit that will change the look of Chelsea’s attack. Indeed, Tuchel wants to rebuild his frontline ahead of the 2022/23 season with Raphinha and Raheem Sterling believed to be on the radar of the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Chelsea want to change their approach in the final third. TOKYO, JAPAN – JUNE 06: Raphinha of Brazil looks on during the international friendly match between . .

. [+] Japan and Brazil at National Stadium on June 06, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images) Getty Images By the looks of it, Tuchel wants players who can carry the ball in moments of quick transition.

Raphinha, who is also desired by Arsenal and Barcelona, is one of the best dribblers in the Premier League right now and just completed a season that saw him register 11 goals and three assists in 35 games for relegation-threatened Leeds United. MORE FOR YOU WWE Extreme Rules 2021 Results: Winners, News And Notes As Roman Reigns Beats The Demon The World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players 2021: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo Reclaims Top Spot From PSG’s Lionel Messi The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Win Over The San Francisco 49ers Raphinha’s off-the-ball work also makes him attractive to Chelsea with the Brazilian quick to help out on the defensive side of the ball. His arrival at Stamford Bridge would make the Blues a more dynamic, modern team.

Raphinha could be the perfect wide forward for Tuchel and his Chelsea system. Sterling is entering the final year of his contract at Manchester City and might be ready for a new challenge in his career. There is some debate over where the England international is most effective on the pitch, but his goalscoring record speaks for itself – Sterling has scored 91 goals in 225 Premier League appearances for City.

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JUNE 11: Raheem Sterling of England is challenged by Giovanni Di Lorenzo of . . .

[+] Italy during the UEFA Nations League – League A Group 3 match between England and Italy at Molineux on June 11, 2022 in Wolverhampton, England. This game will be played behind closed doors following on from the Euro 2020 final. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Getty Images The signing of Lukaku from Inter last summer was meant to give Chelsea a reliable centre forward who could be counted on to score at least 20 goals every season.

After all, the Belgian had scored goals for fun over two seasons in Serie A. Now, though, it appears Tuchel wants to find goals in other areas. Kai Havertz offers Chelsea a lot as a centre forward, but the German isn’t a natural goalscorer, although he is adding cutting edge to his game.

This is where Sterling could be extremely useful, such is his instinct for getting on the end of chances inside the penalty box. In the right team, Sterling could feasibly score 20 goals in a single season – he’s done it before. Chelsea are building for a new future on and off the pitch.

There is a new owner in place at Stamford Bridge following the departure of Roman Abramovich while Tuchel needs at least one new central defender before the start of the new season. But it’s his attacking vision that could change Chelsea the most. Graham Ruthven Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.