Romelu Lukaku ‘texts former teammate’ with cryptic update on his Chelsea future

'It is very hot'

Romelu Lukaku has reportedly text former Everton teammate Tim Howard about his Chelsea future, informing him that he can 'say more' after a meeting with the club on Monday. The Blues forward has been left out of the squad to face Liverpool on Sunday afternoon after a controversial interview with Sky Sports Italia was released earlier this week. The Belgian admitted that he is unhappy with his role at Stamford Bridge, as well as speaking fondly of former club Inter Milan. According to NBC Sport, Lukaku recently text Howard and told him:

"I can’t talk too much about it. It is very hot. There is another meeting on Monday. I have another meeting on Monday, I can talk more after that."

Howard - who played with Lukaku at Goodison Park for three years - has insisted that the striker is not 'venomous' and is a 'good guy'. https://twitter.com/cfcevo2/status/1477641134499323907

'This does seem out of character,' says Howard of Romelu Lukaku

"I think he’s frustrated, absolutely. The things happened at Inter, the way he left, the way he had to be sold for them to recoup some money for the club," he said, as reported in Chelsea Chronicle. "He didn’t get an opportunity to speak to the and the way he wanted to and leave on his own terms.

"Even though when I spoke to him a few weeks ago, he spoke about unfinished business at Chelsea, I think that was also real, but I think it was a brave face to say 'I’m here now, I have to come back and hopefully win some trophies.' "But this does seem out of character for him to speak in this way."

Lukaku has scored five goals in 13 Premier League appearances so far this season, but has recently been out with an ankle problem and Covid. Belgium's all-time leading goalscorer has not started in any of the four games since his return from injury, despite Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel suffering from an injury and Covid crisis. The London outfit have drawn three of their last four games and have dropped 11 points behind league-leaders Manchester City. Related links:

• Gary Neville defends Romelu Lukaku following controversial interview
• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink slams ‘disrespectful’ Romelu Lukaku for explosive interview