In a bid to offload unwanted players, Chelsea Football Club has made it clear to Inter Milan that they are seeking approximately £38 million for the services of Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku, the 30-year-old striker, has expressed his disinterest in returning to Chelsea, prompting the club to actively pursue a transfer deal.
While Inter Milan has been engaged in discussions to secure Lukaku on a permanent basis, their initial offer of £26 million has reportedly been swiftly rejected by Chelsea. The London-based club is determined to recoup a larger portion of the £97.5 million they invested in Lukaku’s acquisition from Inter in 2021.
Juventus, another prominent Italian club, has shown interest in Lukaku and could emerge as competitors to Inter in the race for the Belgian international. Additionally, Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal has also expressed interest in Lukaku, although the player himself has reservations about a move to Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal remains hopeful that Lukaku may reconsider his stance and entertain the possibility of joining them.
With pre-season training at Chelsea set to commence next week, Lukaku is eager to have his future resolved before then. It is worth noting that Chelsea has already ruled out the option of a loan move for the striker during this summer transfer window.
According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter recently held discussions with Lukaku’s lawyer, Sebastien Ledure, and are hopeful for a breakthrough in negotiations. However, Chelsea expects Inter to improve their offer, leaving uncertainty as to whether the Serie A side can meet Lukaku’s valuation, given their current financial challenges.
Speaking at his unveiling as Chelsea’s new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that Lukaku is expected to return to Cobham if a transfer deal fails to materialize. Pochettino stated, “Like with all the players, the first thing they do when they arrive is to come to my office and see me. That is what I expect if he is still a Chelsea player.”
