Inter Milan look to pull off audacious move to bring Romelu Lukaku BACK to Italy less than a year after his £97.5m switch to Chelsea… but finances threaten to scupper San Siro return with a complicated loan the only option
- Chelsea made their move to bring Romelu Lukaku back to London last summer
- The Blues sanctioned a record £97.5million move to sign him from Inter Milan
- It has not worked out and now Inter are exploring a deal to re-acquire Lukaku
- Due to the finances involved it would not be straightforward from either side
Inter Milan are exploring a deal to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea.
The 29-year-old moved to London for £97.5million last summer, but after being beaten to the Serie A title by bitter rivals AC Milan, Inter want to bring him back to the San Siro.
It will be difficult – not least because of the enormous transfer fee and wages of more than £325,000 a week – but Inter have genuine interest.
Romelu Lukaku has endured a frustrating return to Chelsea following his £97.5million move
The Belgian striker was one of Europe’s premier marksman for Inter in the 2020-21 season
The Belgian’s goals fired them to the Serie A title under Antonio Conte in 2021 and Lukaku made no secret of the fact he loved his two seasons in Milan, revealing in an interview with Sky Italia earlier this year that he had not wanted to leave and would like to return.
Thomas Tuchel has been unable to coax the best from Lukaku at Stamford Bridge and the manager might be prepared to accept his exit if he can find a top-class replacement.
A return to Inter would suit all parties but the finances must add up for all sides.
Lukaku (second from left) won the 2020-21 Serie A title during his time with the Italian side
Chelsea are not prepared to write off millions, Lukaku will not want to take a drop in wages and Inter are still walking a financial tightrope.
Any deal may have to be a carefully constructed and complicated loan, and discussions have been blocked until now by Chelsea’s takeover process.
The new US owners, led by Todd Boehly, completed the £4.25bn deal on Monday and promised to stay at the top.
Almost immediately, reports emerged from Italy about Inter’s chief executive Beppe Marotta meeting Lukaku’s lawyer Sebastien Ledure in a Milan hotel. Ledure denied there was any meeting and dismissed it all as ‘speculation’.
Inter are also interested in Argentina forward Paulo Dybala, who is leaving Juventus on a free transfer.