Thomas Tuchel Planning Drastic Chelsea Formation Change

Chelsea could be switching to a different formation following the club-record capture of Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian striker has returned to Stamford Bridge ten years after he first signed for the Blues, with Chelsea paying £97.5 million for his services.

He gives a whole new dimension to the Chelsea attack, with many feeling as though the addition of Lukaku puts the European champions in a very strong position to win the Premier League.

One would have expected Lukaku to play as the lone striker up top for Chelsea, being that focal point that Didier Drogba and Diego Costa were at different periods back in the day.

However, Thomas Tuchel has hinted at playing Lukaku in a two-man striker partnership - like the former Everton striker did with distinction playing alongside Lautaro Martinez in Inter Milan's title-winning season last term.

Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez formed a superb partnership. Image: PA

"I know this very well, but at the same time it can be also a huge advantage to be able to play in more than one position, because then you can be the alternative for more minutes," Tuchel said, as per Metro.

"So there’s an up-side and a down-side.

"I’m very happy with Timo, Christian and Kai because they have put a lot of effort and intensity into the team.

"With the addition of Romelu. We get the number-one striker and we want to have him on the pitch. This is very clear.

"If you do this kind of transfer, we are absolutely sure we want to have him on the pitch, but I think he will lift the pressure off the shoulders of the young guys, from Kai, Timo and Christian, because Romelu is the kind of personality who loves responsibility.

"I think we have now with Romelu the chance also to play with two strikers, like they did at Inter with him, or to continue with three strikers.

"We will see now how this works out and we will find a solution for the players around him."

Chelsea have offloaded both Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham to Italian sides AC Milan and AS Roma, but they have the likes of Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner who could all partner Lukaku up top.

Image: PA

Lukaku has signed a five-year contract and will become the club's highest-earner, with The Athletic reporting he is in line to earn between £325,000 and £450,000-per-week when image rights and performance-related bonuses are taken into account.

Topics: Football, Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku, Premier League

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

@joshlawless_