Jose Mourinho Will Dictate Future of Out of Favour Chelsea Striker
Romelu Lukaku's future at Chelsea will be decided after talks with new manager Jose Mourinho, according to the Belgian striker.
The 20 year old spent the season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, scoring 17 goals in the Premier League, more than any Chelsea player including top scorer Frank Lampard and strikers Fernando Torres and Demba Ba, who both failed to get out of single figures for The Blues.
Lukaku returns to Stamford Bridge this summer following his season-long spell with The Baggies, but admits he is no clearer over his future with incoming new manager Mourinho, who is understood to have agreed a deal to rejoin Chelsea, set to decide over his immediate future.
"My future is up to me and the manager," he said. "First we need to have a conversation about what his plans are and then we'll go from there.
"I'm ready to go there and do my best because my first ambition is to play at Chelsea, but I have to be realistic.
"I'm 20-years-old and I need to play, so we'll see what will happen.
"I'm very proud to be a Chelsea player. I've had a very good season on loan and I will go back and show my qualities. Hopefully I will stay there but in football you never know. We'll have to see what will happen in the future."
The ex-Anderlecht forward's frame has seen him compared to Didier Drogba, similarities which could persuade Mourinho to entrust Lukaku to lead the Chelsea line in his first season back in west London, such was the success of the Ivory Coast forward during his first spell at the club.
During last summer Eden Hazard and Oscar were signed to help bring the best out of Torres, who led the line for Chelsea last season, however despite netting 23 goals in all competition, the Spaniard's often lethargic displays point towards the club attempting to add to their ranks in order to bridge the gap to the Manchester clubs at the Premier League summit.
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