Thomas Tuchel's seven-word Chelsea message signals new Todd Boehly transfer approach

Thomas Tuchel wanted to clarify that he was not pushing for Romelu Lukaku's exit this summer.

"There was never a meeting where I said, 'I want this guy out'. Never." Tuchel told from LA, where Chelsea began their pre-season tour of the USA.

"I was always clear: if he stays, we will do everything to put him in a better place, to put him in better shape, to improve my style of coaching, our style of playing, to make him a better fit."

Despite ending the 2021/22 season as Chelsea's top scorer with 15 goals in all competitions, the Belgian had failed to meet the expectations of the previous summer when he arrived for £97m from Serie A.

Thomas Tuchel reveals three Chelsea transfer priorities and new responsibility under Todd Boehly

Lukaku was supposed to be the saviour of Chelsea's profligate attack, but instead, he only added to the growing confusion. Looking like a character from a different genre implanted into the leading role of the wrong film than the final piece of the jigsaw Tuchel intended him to be.

But in seven words, Tuchel captured how Todd Boehly and Clearlake are beginning to alter the club's approach to awkward situations like this. When reflecting on Lukaku's desire to return to Inter, the German said: "the owners took the decision straight away".

Lukaku's loan to Inter was not a deal financially that was ever going to look good on Chelsea's side, and it has not even fully resolved the problem as Tuchel even admitted that the forward could still return next summer, as unlikely as that may sound.

"I'm unhappy that we couldn't bring more out of him," Tuchel admitted. "Maybe it would have just taken a bit more time. A bit more fitness, a bit more, like, stiffness and adaption in our game. Who knows? But we will