First things first, there has been no transfer story or rumour linking Romelu Lukaku with a return to Anderlecht. However, the striker has always said that he would like to return to his boyhood club before he hangs up his boots. With Juventus, Inter and Chelsea all against having the player, perhaps the time is coming sooner rather than later?
The Red Devils top scorer cut his teeth with the Mauves, where he burst onto the scene as a teenager. Recently, he remained the last Belgian to finish top scorer in the Pro League before Hugo Cuypers won the golden boot in the 2022/2023 season. In 98 games for the Brussels side he scored an incredible 41 goals.
Anderlecht already have one of the golden generation of Belgian football in their squad, with Jan Vertonghen very much the elder statesman expected to provide leadership to a young group of players. They have rejected the possibility of signing Eden Hazard, but perhaps Lukaku is different. You would expect the fans would welcome him back, and for his own confidence returning to a club that has affection for him could help him rediscover his form.
Financially, the situation would be difficult. There is no way in which Anderlecht could afford his current wages, or even the transfer fee that Chelsea are asking for. It would have to be a loan deal with a significant portion of his wages paid for by Chelsea, which is probably something that they London side are considering only as a last resort.
After a poor 2022/2023 season, a returning Lukaku upfront alongside Kapser Dolberg could be quite a force. Two strikers looking to rediscover the form that propelled them into the top flights of Europe, albeit at different ends of their respective careers. It remains a pipe dream for now, but by the end of the transfer window a Lukaku return to Anderlecht may be something that is seriously worth considering for all parties involved.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
