Romelu Lukaku will have to take a significant wage reduction if he wants to rejoin Inter Milan from Chelsea this summer. Chelsea spent £97.5 million on the striker’s services in August, bringing him back to Stamford Bridge. However, the move has not gone quite as planned.
Lukaku had a fallout with Thomas Tuchel following public comments he made, and he is now second in the pecking order behind Kai Havertz. Lukaku’s record for the campaign stands at 12 goals and two assists in 39 matches. That’s not terrible, but it’s far from the 30 goals he hit last season.
Havertz and Werner started upfront during the recent 1-0 win over West Ham. Lukaku only came off the bench for the last 14 minutes and could not add to his goal. The 28-year-old could leave Chelsea when the transfer window reopens. According to insiders, he adores Inter and would gladly return to Serie A.
Calciomercato explains how that transfer could happen. To begin with, Chelsea should not expect a large sum from the Nerazzurri. They don’t have the best financial situation right now, so they’d have to take Lukaku on loan rather than permanently.
Inter may be able to turn the loan into a long-term deal after a season on loan. They would not, however, be willing to pay anywhere near the £97.5 million paid by Chelsea.
Lukaku would also have to take a significant pay cut. According to recent reports, he currently earns between €13 and €14 million per year. Inter would be able to pay him no more than €6.5 million, requiring him to potentially pay half his compensation. Lukaku, on the other hand, is eager to do so. According to Calciomercato, he has been sending messages back to his previous club, pleading with them to “take him back home.”
Last season, the Belgian was Inter’s standout performer, helping the club capture the Serie A title. But he’s now playing second fiddle to Havertz, which isn’t good enough. The penalty imposed on owner Roman Abramovich must be mentioned. Lukaku’s departure could be delayed until the club’s new owner completes the purchase from Abramovich.
