Inter Milan and Chelsea have reached an agreement over Romelu Lukaku’s loan deal. Inter Milan will reportedly pay up to £6.9 million-plus add-ons to resign Lukaku on loan this summer.
Lukaku is expected to have his medical next week before finalizing the transfer.
Although the legal details of the agreement are still being worked on, Inter Milan will not have an option to purchase Lukaku after his loan in Serie A is over on June 30, 2023.
After spending £98.5 million to bring the striker back to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea is reportedly unwilling to let him leave for a reduced fee.
Lukaku will come back to Stamford Bridge after the 2022–2023 season as he has a contract with the Premier League club until 2026.
After a disappointing season with Chelsea in which he scored just 15 goals in 44 appearances, the Belgian striker has made no secret of his desire to return to Serie A. Lukaku had once called Inzaghi on phone to ask him what he could do to return to Inter Milan.
The Belgian allegedly made the call at 8:30 A.M. on April 5, 2022, after wishing the coach a happy 46th birthday.
The Belgian striker reportedly asked: ‘Mister, what can I do to return to Inter?’ The conversation took place a day before the UEFA Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid. Chelsea lost the match 3-1 as Karim Benzema scored a hat trick in the encounter.
It has been reported that the partnership between Todd Boehly, the new co-owner of Chelsea, and Michael Yormark, president of Roc Nation, who represents Romelu Lukaku, was what ultimately sealed the deal. Once the Belgian made it plain that he wants to leave, Boehly was convinced that Lukaku’s departure was best for all parties.
According to the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport, a deal was finally reached after three hours of negotiations, This means that in the 2022-2023 season Lukaku will play for the team he helped to win the Serie A championship in 2020–21.
The loss of Lukaku intensifies Tuchel’s need to find a new forward and Raheem Sterling of Manchester City is at the center of his ideas.
Sterling has just one year left in his contract with Manchester City and the club is willing to let him go this summer. However, the deal will cost around £55 million but Chelsea are yet to submit an offer.
Robert Lewandowski is also coveted by Chelsea, although a deal is improbable because of his desire to join Barcelona. Other available alternatives are Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele and attacker Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig.
Romelu Lukaku returns to Inter, here we go and confirmed! Full agreement now signed on loan deal until June 2023, €8 loan fee plus add-ons. ⚫️🔵 #CFC #Inter
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2022
▫️ Lukaku’s salary will be around €8m.
▫️ NO buy option or obligation clause.
▫️ Add-ons related to team performances. pic.twitter.com/3sEeQtfXs0
