Poch shares his concerns over Lukaku case ahead of West Ham tie
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 20.08.23. | 14:30
Chelsea's boss thinks both the club and the player are to blame for a dispute that results in the striker's absence
Blame for the long-running stand-off between Chelsea and Romelu Lukaku must be shared on "both sides", thinks Blues tactician Mauricio Pochettino. Asked about the Belgium international ahead of their Sunday's clash with West Ham, Poch concluded that the story has two sides.
Lukaku - who cost £97.5m when he signed from Inter Milan just over two years ago - has not played for the club since May 2022. He spent last season back at Inter on loan but Chelsea have been unwilling to let him leave again this summer unless it is on a permanent deal.
"You can't put it only on the club, the situation. It's both sides. The situation is where it is because of two sides.
"It's like when you have a player in or a player out. It's because both sides arrive to an agreement."
A move to Serie A side Juventus was rumoured earlier this transfer window but did not materialise amid fan protests.
"The situation is how it is, we cannot change," Pochettino added.
"We (Pochettino and his team) were informed before we signed, the situation on every single player, and after we signed we had the squad we had. I think it is so clear, nothing changed.
"If there's something to inform, the club will inform."
Lukaku has not been given a squad number on his return to Chelsea and risks a season frozen out by the club if an agreement to leave is not reached.
PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 2
Friday
Nott. Forest - Sheffield United 2-1 (1-0)
/Awoniyi 3, Wood 89 - Hamer 48/
Saturday
Fulham - Brentford 0-3 (0-1)
/Wissa 44, Mbeumo 66 pen, 90+2/
Liverpool - Bournemouth 3-1 (2-1)
/Diaz 27, Salah 36, Jota 62 - Semenyo 3/
Wolverhampton - Brighton 1-4 (0-1)
/Hwang 61 - Mitoma 15, Estupinan 46, March 51,55/
Tottenham - Manchester United 2-0 (0-0)
/Sarr 49, Davies 83/
Manchester City - Newcastle United 1-0 (1-0)
/Alvarez 31/
Sunday
16.00: (1.75) Aston Villa (3.60) Everton (4.90)
18.30: (3.90) West Ham (3.50) Chelsea (2.05)
Monday
22.00: (6.25) Crystal Palace (4.00) Arsenal (1.62)
***odds are subject to change
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