Mauricio Pochettino says he's under orders from the board not to pick a Chelsea star, admitting he's not even spoken to the player since taking charge.
Chelsea have splashed the cash to recruit new talent, having recently beaten Liverpool to both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
Players have also left Stamford Bridge, with the likes of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic moving on, signing for Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City respectively.
But the club haven't been able to discard all the players deemed surplus to requirements as the transfer deadline looms.Romelu Lukaku remains on the club's books as Todd Boehly looks to offload the forward, who cost £97.5 million in 2021.And the Argentine gaffer has revealed he's under orders not to pick the Belgium and has not even spoken to him since coming through the doors at Chelsea.
The 30-year-old has been reluctant to move to Saudi Arabia, with Juventus offering just £35 million. As for his former side Inter Milan, they can't afford his wages.Pochettino said: "The situation with the player you are asking, is a situation that was already really clear before we arrived here. There was a wish between the club and the player to try to find a solution.
"At the moment we are relaxed and nothing happened. If something changes we will inform you. If the player and club’s wish is to find a solution, it's not me, it's them."In that case, the player and the club will meet and inform me that things have changed. I'm not going to move until the club or the player wants to talk with me. I am here, I accept the situation that was here when I arrived."The Chelsea manager, however, hasn't completely ruled out Lukaku returning to the fold.
"The future can change things. Life can change," he added. "I saw Jurgen Klopp say I'm not going to be in this business when we should pay £100million, and then they offered £100million for Moises Caicedo and he said: 'Oh, I made a mistake.'
"That is the same situation. In football, the dynamic is fast and changes and we need to move on.
"Today, nothing has changed. If something changes we will adapt to the situation."
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