As Thomas Tuchel embarks on his first full season as Chelsea manager, he still awaits his first big-name summer signing.

In fact, despite a spending spree of over £200million while Frank Lampard was at the helm last year, only back-up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has come in under the German's watch.

The Blues are coming off their back of their second-ever Champions League triumph, which prompted many to mark them down as early favourites to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title.

One man who Tuchel hopes can elevate his side to do just that is Romelu Lukaku - a former Chelsea player.

Having spent three years contracted at Stamford Bridge which were mostly made up of loan spells between 2011-14, the 6ft 3in Belgian is now one of Europe's most feared marksmen.

Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku finally teamed up in 2019 and went on to lift the Italian title in their second season together at Inter Milan

Two bids are reportedly have already been knocked back by Inter Milan, who are coming off their back of their first Serie A win in 11 years, but also losing manager Antonio Conte amid their financial difficulty.

The latest offer from the Blues is said to be worth £85million, plus left-back Marcos Alonso, which hasn't been enough to tempt the Italian champions - yet.

Now, a third bid is expected as the new season approaches, but how it all could've been so different as the title has not returned to west London since.

In the summer of 2017, a transfer battle ensued between Manchester United and Chelsea for Lukaku, then of Everton.

Ex-Blues gaffer Jose Mourinho won his signature, paying the Toffees £80million as United aimed to reclaim top spot themselves.

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Champions Chelsea were left to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata for around £60m, whose time in the capital was blighted by frustrating form and a lack of finishing prowess.

His failure partially contributed to their dismal term, in which they finished outside of the top four as the Red Devils finished second and their new striker bagged 26 goals in all competitions compared to Morata's 15.

Despite beating Mourinho's men in the FA Cup final, Conte was sacked in the summer of 2018 and would return to Italy a year later to begin his next venture.

But Conte may never have been Inter boss and continued his success at the Bridge if things had gone his way after his first year, as he explained to the Telegraph in 2020.

"I asked for two players and we were very, very close after we won the league," revealed Conte.

Alvaro Morata endured a difficult two years at Chelsea, having been Antonio Conte's second choice when trying to sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton in 2017 (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

"One player was Romelu Lukaku, the second player was Virgil van Dijk, and these two players were very, very close.

"We were in contact every day and I always said that with these two players we would improve my team by 30 per cent."

And the huge price was that Conte and co's dominance was short-lived, having stormed to a then-record 30 league wins on the way to top-flight glory.

"I think maybe we lost the momentum to bring Chelsea at the very top and then to stay for many years," the 51-year-old tactician explained.

"It was a pity that it didn't happen and Romelu is showing with Inter that my idea was right and also Van Dijk has shown with Liverpool that my idea was right for the club."

Romelu Lukaku spent three seasons contracted with Chelsea but made just 15 appearances (
Image:
Action Images)

Could Lukaku fire the Blues back to the top? Comment below.

Having coached the 28-year-old in his favoured 3-5-2 formation, Conte proved himself right by "teaching" the hitman to 66 goals in 97 appearances across to seasons in Italy, following his departure from Old Trafford.

The Italian has now left the San Siro and the Nerazzurri are looking to recoup funds thanks to their owners, Chinese Suning Holdings Group, recently having to receive a bailout from the state to avoid bankruptcy.

Former Lazio manager Simeone Inzaghi is now in charge and Conte is once again left with time to think about how things might've been if he'd been handed his choice by Roman Abramovich four years ago.

He admitted: "For sure, it would have been a different story if I was the coach of Romelu."

"Romelu is an incredible player and he has a lot of space for improvement.

"In one year at Inter, he had a lot of improvement because he wants to learn and I think I am a teacher," Conte said.

"But he can continue to improve to become one of the best strikers in the world."

Whether that improvement can continue back at the Bridge - where he failed to score in his 15 appearances as a youngster - for this upcoming campaign remains to be seen.

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