It seems like déjà vu for Chelsea.
A big-money, high-profile striking flop has just left, with Timo Werner the latest in a long line of big-money, high-profile striking flops to move to Stamford Bridge amid much fanfare – and then struggle.
Werner won’t even be the only striker to leave this window, with Romelu Lukaku farmed out to Inter Milan in June, a year after becoming the club’s record signing.
Fernando Torres and Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko also failed to live up to expectations, while Blues fans may remember the likes of Adrian Mutu and Mateja Kezman.
With Werner’s medical at RB Leipzig set for Tuesday, Sportsmail runs through Chelsea’s litany of costly mistakes up front.
Timo Werner has completed his return to Leipzig after Chelsea cut their losses in a £25m deal
The German is the latest in a long line of big-money, high-profile players to struggle at Stamford Bridge – below, Sportsmail runs through Chelsea’s litany of costly mistakes up front
Romelu Lukaku – £97.5million
‘Romelu Lukaku comes home’: A four-word headline billing Chelsea’s near-£100million outlay as the return of the prodigal son, to bridge the gap to the top two in English football of Man City and Liverpool after a promising third-placed finish in 2021-22.
In the prime of his career at 28 years old, a former Chelsea player who ‘knew the club’ and had plenty of experience of Premier League and English football, off the back of two 30-goal seasons at Inter Milan. What could go wrong?
Well, a lot, apparently, and his home is now in northern Italy again. Less than a year after joining for a £97.5million, he returned to Inter for a loan fee of less than £7m.
Despite scoring and impressing against Arsenal on his second debut, Lukaku initially struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, and was not as mobile as Kai Havertz or Werner up top.
His pressing was not as intense as his team-mates’, and he appeared unsuited to Chelsea’s overall system, with manager Thomas Tuchel seemingly unwilling or unable to adapt things to the Belgian.
Romelu Lukaku was sent back to Inter Milan on loan in July a year after joining for £97.5million
After an explosive interview in which he admitted he was ‘not happy’ at the club or with Tuchel’s system – leaving the German furious – the writing was on the wall.
Whatever happens, he’s due back in summer 2023. What future awaits him in west London is not so certain.
Alvaro Morata – £60m
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