CHELSEA will not be able to recall Romelu Lukaku in the January transfer window despite their current injury crisis.
Blues striker Armando Broja could miss the rest of the season after scans revealed he tore his ACL in their friendly with Aston Villa on Saturday.
It leaves Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz as Graham Potter’s only real centre-forward options for the rest of the season.
But the pair have managed just seven goals between them in 32 appearances this term.
Potter was in conversation with co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali pitchside in Abu Dhabi following the loss to Villa.
And he may well have been discussing the need for a new striker in the January window.
However, Lukaku will not be the solution as his season-long loan at Inter Milan does not contain a recall before the summer.
The Belgian, 29, returned to Stamford Bridge for a second spell in August 2021 in a deal worth £97.5million.
But he only managed 15 goals in 44 appearances last season and subsequently headed back to Inter in a loan move worth £7m.
Injuries have plagued his current campaign with just two goals in five appearances for the Serie A giants.
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He did go to the World Cup with Belgium but was lacking match fitness and featured very little for Roberto Martinez’s men as they crashed out in the group stage.
Meanwhile, Chelsea sacked Thomas Tuchel one month into this season, with new boss Potter kicking off his spell with a nine-match unbeaten run.
But three Premier League defeats in a row before the World Cup break have left the ex-Brighton head coach under pressure.
Chelsea sit eighth in the table, with their first game back coming at home to Bournemouth on December 27.
They then travel to Nottingham Forest on New Year’s Day, before hosting champions Manchester City four days later.
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