Chelsea boss Graham Potter makes stunning Romelu Lukaku admission ahead of Aston Villa clash

Graham Potter has revealed he’s a big fan of striker Romelu Lukaku ahead of a big summer where he’ll have to make a decision on the Belgian’s future.

The former Manchester United forward joined Chelsea for a club record fee of £97.5 million but fell out with Thomas Tuchel and took a pay cut to return to Inter Milan last summer.

An injury-ravaged season has impacted his time and form at Inter who are looking to cut their losses in the summer and move in a different direction when the loan move comes to an end.

Chelsea are said to have indicated they’d be happy to let Lukaku stay for another year but Simone Inzaghi’s side are determined to stop paying his wages, making a return to west London more likely at the moment.

Asked what he thought of the striker’s situation, Potter admitted Lukaku was someone he admired and that a decision would be made in the summer.

He told reporters: “Although he is our player, he is on loan and an Inter Milan player. I think it is important he finishes that off. Then we have a decision to make in the summer.

“He is someone I admire a lot, I like a lot but again it is something to think about over the summer.”

When Lukaku re-joined Chelsea in the summer of 2021, he was expected to herald their push for a Premier League title, but in what turned out to be a disappointing move for every one involved, he only managed 15 goals in 44 appearances with only eight coming in the league.