Belgian striker offered opportunities by Jose Mourinho.
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Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku may turn down the chance to go out on loan again next season after holding talks with the club’s new manager Jose Mourinho.
The Daily Mail claims that positive talks were held between the boss and the player, who spent the 2012/13 campaign on loan with Premier League side West Brom.
After an impressive year at the Hawthorns, scoring 17 goals, Lukaku was still thought to be out of the picture at Stamford Bridge, and was being linked with a number of other clubs for a loan spell again next season.
The likes of Borussia Dortmund, West Ham and Swansea were said to be keen to snap him up, but it has now emerged that he will fight for his place in the Chelsea starting lineup.
Mourinho is said to be a fan of his, comparing him to Blues legend Didier Drogba, with whom he enjoyed an excellent relationship in his first spell in charge of the club.
Chelsea have not yet managed to adequately replace Drogba, with Fernando Torres and Demba Ba both looking off-form and possible candidates to be sold in the summer transfer window.
This could open up opportunities for Lukaku, though Chelsea are also thought to be chasing the big-money signing of Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, who would almost certainly be first choice if he moved to Stamford Bridge.