• Premier League

I've not spoken to Chelsea since September - Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku has impressed on loan spells at West Brom and most recently Everton © Getty Images

Enlarge

Romelu Lukaku has made an extraordinary claim suggesting he has not spoken to anyone at Chelsea about his future since last September.

Lukaku's position at Stamford Bridge has long been uncertain, with the striker having spent the previous two seasons on loan, first at West Brom and then Everton, where he impressed with 17 goals and 16 goals respectively. The Belgian admits he is now weighing up his options and says a decision is close.

When asked if he had spoken to Chelsea since September, he said: "No, not yet. It depends what is the best for me, where the most ambition is and where is the best place for me to develop.

"I'm 21 but I think I'm experienced enough now. I've played a lot of games and scored a lot of goals and now I want to win titles and become one of the best. I have a few ideas but we'll see. I have to have discussions first and have to think about it. I want to go home and then I will decide. It will be soon."

Most clubs keep in touch with their on-loan players and Chelsea - and manager Jose Mourinho - have a good track record. The chances of Lukaku having no contact whatsoever seems very slim and it's possible he misinterpreted the question that was put to him.

However, nothing official has been said publicly by Chelsea on Lukaku's future in recent weeks and the 21-year-old was seemingly at odds with manager Mourinho for much of last season.

In November, Lukaku hit back at claims from Mourinho suggesting he never publicly why he joined Everton. In response, Lukaku claimed his situation was "strange" and that he had not received any contact from his parent club for a "couple of months".

Furthermore, Mourinho's persistent talk of signing a new striker - long-time target Diego Costa has since agreed a move to the Premier League club - forced Lukaku to show his hand in February.

It was then he claimed he would need Champions League football in order to further his development and, as a result, hinted towards a return to west London this season.

That desire for development has not changed and, following Belgium's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Argentina, Lukaku insists he will go on holiday before making a decision on his future.

"It's up to me to work hard but there are choices to make. Things like that happen in football and I'm confident I will make the right choice. I'm looking at everything but first of all I want to go on holiday and relax a little bit," Lukaku said.

"I want to go on holiday first and rest with my parents and then we will see. I want to be somewhere where I can play my best football and hopefully win titles."

Mourinho's side have their first pre-season friendly on July 16 and will travel to Austria for a training camp shortly after. The Chelsea players involved in the final stages of the World Cup are expected to get an extended break before they begin preparations for the new domestic season.

Since his £18 million move from Anderlect in 2011, Lukaku has made just 12 appearances for Chelsea.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd