Thomas Tuchel hails Romelu Lukaku’s desire to rejoin Chelsea and expects ‘huge impact’ after club-record deal

Thomas Tuchel has revealed that Romelu Lukaku drove his return to Stamford Bridge, but insists the striker’s £97.5million arrival still leaves Chelsea playing catch-up to Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool in the race for the title.

The German manager dismissed suggestions his Champions League winners should be considered favourites to win the Premier League - but believes Lukaku will make them serious contenders.

Champions City broke the British transfer record to sign £100million Jack Grealish and are confident they will land Harry Kane before the transfer window closes.

Meanwhile United have brought in Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane for a combined fee of more than £100m.

Tuchel says that is why Chelsea are still in the wake of the sides that finished above them last season. 

“Everybody who can read can see we came fourth and we needed some help on the last matchday to arrive in fourth place to make it a successful season,” said the Chelsea manager. “When you come fourth, you are not favourite the next season.

“We have some gaps to close, we let Liverpool pass us in the last match and we have a big gap to close to Manchester United and Manchester City.

“I see the transfer market from City and United so I don’t see any reasons why they should be any worse than last season. They improved their squad, they are stable and very, very strong teams.

“We are not scared to fight for every title that we compete in, including the cups, Champions League and Premier League. It is not worth breaking our heads about being favourites or not.

“I hope and want that we play with the mentality to hunt Man City, Man United and Liverpool, not from January but from Saturday onwards.

“We see ourselves as hunters and challengers for the three teams that finished above us.”

Tuchel told Chelsea chief Marina Granovskaia that a world-class striker was required to turn Chelsea into genuine title contenders and on Thursday secured the signing of Lukaku after targeting Erling Haaland and Kane this summer.

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Tuchel revealed the Belgium international’s own determination to return to the club where he was an academy starlet was a major factor in the move.

“He was super hungry,” he said. “He did everything to take this chance to make it happen. He had a huge impact at Inter, he was a huge player with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, winning a big title for Inter last season.

“So it was actually very important to us that it was his desire to rejoin Chelsea and to finish his story here that he wants for himself. It was very important.

“We think that Romelu, coming through here and always having Chelsea in his heart, is the perfect addition to our group because he embodies all that.”

Lukaku is not available for Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace as he carries out a period of quarantine due to Covid-19 protocols.

Tuchel added: “We were looking for a certain profile and Romelu feels confident to play physical, to play with back to goal, also very strong in using his pace so this will always be a key figure in our game.

“We want to be strong in ball wins and offensive transition, this is what the league demands and what we demand of ourselves. We don’t want to be only a ball possession team or only a defensive team, long balls, but the feeling is that Romelu’s strengths will give us a new power when we cross from the side.

“I don’t think we have to change too much our style of play. He has charisma, a good age now, a leader and hopefully he will be a leader in our group.”

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