Bold predictions for Chelsea and the Premier League in 2021/22

7. Who will be Chelsea’s best signing (or returning loanee) of the season?

Abhishek: Romelu Lukaku. He left as a boy and is returning to the club as a man who finally has the opportunity to wear Didier Drogba’s crown. With Lukaku leading the line, sucking centerbacks into his orbit and crashing past opposition defences, the Blues will finally look like the team they were meant to be.

Anthony: Romelu Lukaku. Obviously it couldn’t be anyone else but him, not only because Marcus Bettinelli is Chelsea’s only other signing to date (and I highly doubt he will even play this season), but because Rom is back. He is back to fulfill his dream for succeeding with Chelsea. Lukaku returns to Stamford Bridge at the age of 28, not only as different person, but as one of the most clinical strikers in world football. He’s got a point to prove.

Akshat: Romelu Lukaku. It’s difficult to look past Lukaku at this point, given how desperate Chelsea was last season for a prolific striker. Lukaku will return to England with a point to prove, and that should be motivation enough for the Belgian to fire in the goals.

Barrett: Romelu Lukaku. He will score 30 goals in total this season and chip in with five or six assists, as well. Picking anyone other than him on the back of that would be stupid.

Daniel: Romelu Lukaku. Revenge tour. He proves to himself and the rest of the league that he is a world class striker capable of leading a top Premier League club. Lukaku becomes the Player of the Season because of his big goals and his number of goals. Great signing anticipated.

Gabe: Romelu Lukaku. In addition to the fact that this one is a no brainer, Lukaku is going to excel for the Blues this season. Tuchel—much like Antonio Conte—will get the absolute best out of the Belgian.

Kevin: This answer must have been given across the whole remit of PoL writers. Romelu Lukaku is coming home. What an outstanding signing for the club and testament to the faith Roman Abramovich has in Tuchel. Chelsea has missed having a combative striker since the maverick Brazilian born Spaniard, Diego Costa, left these shores.

Leighton: Romelu Lukaku. At the peak of his career and looking physically stronger since last he was in England, he will bully defenders willingly and score vital goals for Chelsea to fire the Blues to Premier League glory.

Mike: Romelu Lukaku, full stop. Big Rom’s return to Stamford Bridge has supporters in an absolute frenzy following a dominant campaign in Serie A for the Belgian that resulted in Inter Milan’s first Scudetto in 10 years. A lack of composure in front of goal plagued Chelsea last season, and Lukaku’s arrival will surely help solve this problem.

Nate: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (as the classic “like a new signing” guy).  This is pretty much the last chance saloon. If it doesn’t work out this season, it probably never will. While the team is deep, central midfield is just thin enough that he could see plenty of minutes if he takes advantage of early-season opportunities.

Olaoluwa: Aurelien Tchouameni*. Tchouameni would be Chelsea’s signing of the season because he’d arrive—much to everyone’s surprise considering he hasn’t been heavily rumored as of yet—and he would be so good that he’d make the most appearances and starts among Chelsea’s central midfielders. He’d also wipe away the stereotypes that Blues fans have prematurely attached to young, AS Monaco central midfielders.

Olly: Ruben Loftus-Cheek. I was always going to pick RLC here because he’s only 10 months my senior and growing up four miles away, I’ve always thought he must have seen me playing school football and modeled his game on mine. Anyway, he will be back to his barnstorming, driving run best (much like I did as an under-eight).

Travis: As of right now, this defaults to Romelu Lukaku. Kounde, if he signs, won’t be a starter right away and a midfield signing remains unclear. One could always go the Arsene Wenger route of a player returning from loan being “like a new signing” but even that is pretty unclear at the moment.

Yi Hao: Romelu Lukaku. I mean considering the limited number of players Chelsea has been linked with and the even lesser number of players the club is looking poised to sign, I would be surprised if anyone says any different, am I right?

Vansh: Ruben Loftus-Cheek. I could take the conventional route, and mention the blockbuster signing that the club has made, however, I have my superstitions about certain things. Loftus-Cheek knows that it is “now or never” for him at Stamford Bridge. The club knows his potential, his caliber and this is his last chance to convert it into world-class performances.

Varun: Romelu Lukaku. I don’t have to get creative here (our midfielders should though), he’s the only signing we’re making and need. We’ll get by using our loanees as the squad players, but Lukaku is the elite striker we have been crying out for years; he might be the signing of the last five seasons.