Playing for 90
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Identifying target-men PSG could sign to free Kylian Mbappé

By Antonio Losada

Kylian Mbappe celebrating with Olivier Giroud during the UEFA Nations league match between France v Austria at the Stade de France on September 22, 2022 in Paris France (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Kylian Mbappe celebrating with Olivier Giroud during the UEFA Nations league match between France v Austria at the Stade de France on September 22, 2022 in Paris France (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
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Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A football match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Romelu Lukaku (29), Inter Milan (on loan from Chelsea)

Lukaku is definitely more of a future option than someone that could join the French capital this winter — if that, at all.

While still under contract at Chelsea, having signed with the Blues as recently as a year ago for a massive €113m, one could say  things have not gone very well for the Belgium striker as a Stamford Bridge inhabitant. Alas, the loan to Inter Milan.

Lukaku needs no introduction at this point in his career. A late bloomer, the Belgium power-forward has been bagging goals in bunches for a few years now although he’s gone dry of late while also suffering from some injury issues in addition to falling out of Thomas Tuchel’s favor.

All things considered, and when fully fit, Lukaku should still be at the peak of his powers. Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (via SempreInter.com) reported last Saturday that the striker is about to make his comeback (after the game against Sassuolo this upcoming weekend and ahead of the UCL game against Barcelona next week) after having missed all games since the end of August.

Even though Lukaku only appeared in three matches with Inter before leaving 68 minutes into the clash against Lazio (Aug. 26), he recorded a goal and an assist during Matchdays 1 and 2 (vs Lecce and Spezia) to kick off the Serie A season.

Last season, Lukaku started 16 games while appearing in 26 for Chelsea in the Premier League. His all-competitions tally was wrapped-up at 15 goals and two assists in 44 total games but only 2,748 minutes of play (the equivalent of around 30 total 90-minute games). That’s an average of one goal-scoring contribution every 162 minutes, or one every (nearly) two games.

Chelsea, of course, didn’t sign that Lukaku, but the one coming from the 2020/21 Italian champion Inter Milan. The one who bagged 24 goals and assisted 11 more in 2,884 minutes for an average of one goal-scoring contribution every 0.92 games –yes, that’s more than one per game.

Lukaku will need to prove he still has it in him. Chelsea’s new gaffer Graham Potter would need to greenlight any transfer out and the new ownership would also need to see his selling as a net positive move for the finances of the club.

A lot of roadblocks ahead and stars to align, but one is allowed to dream about seeing the big Belgian in PSG colors.

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