Chelsea, Inter Milan reportedly ‘reach an agreement over Romelu Lukaku’
Chelsea and Inter Milan have reportedly reached an agreement for Romelu Lukaku to return to San Siro on loan for the 2022-23 season.
The 29-year-old scored 64 goals for Inter between 2019 and 2021 before returning to Chelsea in a big-money transfer last summer.
The Blues paid £97.5 million to bring him back to Stamford Bridge, but the Belgium international struggled to make an impact during the 2021-22 season, scoring only 15 goals and providing two assists in 44 appearances.
Lukaku’s contract with Chelsea has more than five years left on it, but he is said to have made it clear that he wants to return to San Siro ahead of next season.
According to the source, the Italian giants could pay £8.5 million plus add-ons to bring Lukaku back to the club on loan, and a further video call will be held on Monday to finalise the terms.
Chelsea are thought to have mentioned Inter duo Milan Skriniar and Denzel Dumfries during the negotiations, but no more players are expected to be involved in the transaction.
Chelsea may increase their interest in Raheem Sterling as a result of Lukaku’s departure, with the England international potentially departing Manchester City this summer.
The Blues believe the Citizens will let the attacker depart for about £55 million this summer because he just has one year left on his deal with the Premier League champions.
“Physically I am fine. But I’m not happy with the situation at Chelsea. Tuchel has chosen to play with another system – I won’t give up, I’ll be professional. I am not happy with the situation but I am professional – and I can’t give up now,” Lukaku told Sky Italia in a controversial interview towards the end of last year.
“I think everything that happened last summer was not supposed to happen like this… how I left Inter, the way I left the club, how I communicated with Inter fans – this bothers me because it was not the right time.
“Now it’s the right time to share my feelings. I have always said that I have Inter in my heart: I know I will return to Inter, I really hope so. I am in love with Italy, this is the right moment to talk and let people know what really happened.
“I really hope from the bottom of my heart to return to Inter not at the end of my career, but when I’m still at top level to win more together. I want to apologise to the Inter fan, the timing of my words was wrong: what you did for me will remain forever.”
Lukaku scored eight goals and provided one assist in 26 Premier League appearances last season, while also scoring twice and assisting once in six Champions League matches.
The Belgian also scored three goals in ten FA Cup and EFL Cup matches, as well as twice in two Club World Cup appearances.
ALSO READ:
- Mason Mount to ‘force Man Utd player to leave’ as trio ‘drawing’ him to transfer
- Why Erik ten Hag is confident Manchester United can beat Man City in FA Cup final
- Chelsea star’s gesture at full-time all but confirms summer departure
- Mauricio Pochettino signs three-year deal to become new Chelsea manager
- Bayern Munich target likely to play for Manchester City next season: Fabrizio Romano
- ‘So smart’: Kevin De Bruyne jokes Man City teammate can play in about 19 different positions
Chelsea, Inter Milan reportedly ‘reach an agreement over Romelu Lukaku’
