Joe Cole has raised serious doubts about Chelsea’s decision to part ways with Romelu Lukaku, especially as the team continues to struggle with scoring goals, as was evident in their recent 2-0 defeat against Brentford at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s goal-scoring woes persisted, and they have only managed to score 13 goals in their 10 league games this season. Nicolas Jackson, who led the line against Brentford, had little impact on the game.
With Armando Broja being the only other forward option, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Chelsea may need to consider bringing in another striker in the upcoming January transfer window, despite having spent over £1 billion on transfers since the club’s acquisition last year.
Joe Cole, a former Chelsea player, believes that Chelsea made a questionable choice during the summer transfer window by allowing Romelu Lukaku to leave the club.
He sees this decision as particularly perplexing given that Lukaku had previously proved to be a reliable goal-scorer. Chelsea might have alternative options for a mid-season signing, including Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
Romelu Lukaku, who rejoined Chelsea in a £97 million transfer in 2021, returned to Italy in August to join Roma on a season-long loan. Lukaku’s impressive goal-scoring record at Roma, with eight goals in ten games, further raises questions about Chelsea’s decision-making.
In Cole’s view, Chelsea’s current struggles revolve around their inability to convert opportunities into goals.
He questions why Lukaku, who had previously excelled at Inter Milan and had a history of scoring goals for clubs in the UK, couldn’t replicate that success at Chelsea. Lukaku’s success at Roma after departing Chelsea prompts a deeper examination of the issues within the club.
Cole is quick to praise Chelsea’s manager and the dedication of the players, recognizing their elite status as athletes.
He also points out that there appears to be a fundamental problem within the club. The squad’s imbalance and ongoing goal-scoring issues indicate that something needs to be addressed for Chelsea to get back on track.
