Italian giants Inter Milan are close to landing their former striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea. Both parties involved have agreed on a loan deal and the transfer would soon be finalized which could include a future fee, an obligation to buy, and a potential additional season on loan after the 2022/23 campaign.
Chelsea have also agreed to pay part of Lukaku’s wage package and the striker has accepted a slight deduction on his current salary at Chelsea.
Recall that Romelu Lukaku joined Chelsea last season on a £97.5m deal but has been a huge disappointment for the club. The Belgian scored a total of 24 goals in the 2020/21 Serie A season at Inter but managed just 8 goals in 26 league appearances for Chelsea the following season. His poor performance at Chelsea is one of the reasons he wants to leave the club.
In December, Lukaku told Sky in Italy about his desire to go back to Inter Milan. He said: “I really hope in the depths of my heart to return to Inter, not at the end of my career, but at a still good level to hopefully win more.” However, Inter Milan are not in a hurry to re-sign the striker but he remains one of their transfer targets this summer.
Chelsea are currently looking for players to replace Lukaku as they plan to restructure the team now that Todd Boehly has taken ownership of the club.
The club’s former owner Roman Abramovich had to sell the club after having issues with the English management because of his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Blues have lost some of their defenders in the current transfer window and Sevilla’s defender Jules Kounde could join them this summer in the club’s quest to replace the departed defenders. Chelsea have already reached a verbal agreement with the defender.
Thomas Tuchel has revealed that Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe is one of the defenders he wants to work with next season with Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez and RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol also on the club’s transfer wishlist.
Also, Chelsea have reached out to Manchester City for a possible transfer of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus. The two strikers are willing to leave Man City but no bids have been accepted.
Jesus is also linked with a move to Arsenal but the promise of Champions League football could make him join Chelsea. Arsenal have already submitted an offer for the Brazilian but it was rejected by Manchester City.
Barcelona are among the teams pushing to secure the services of Sterling but he desires to remain in the Premier League.
