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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nizaar Kinsella

Chelsea rule out loan exits for Romelu Lukaku and Kalidou Koulibaly

Chelsea will refuse to let either Romelu Lukaku or Kalidou Koulibaly leave on loan this summer as they bid to get both players off their books permanently.

Inter Milan have held talks over deals for Lukaku and Koulibaly but Chelsea have told them they want to recoup transfer fees for two players who cost them a combined £135million.

Inter, who lost the Champions League Final against Manchester City, were pushing for loan deals due to their financial problems and have been left disappointed by that decision. They are unlikely to be able to afford permanent deals for either player.

Lukaku was keen on a return to Inter next season and has also been left disappointed.

New Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino is open to working with Lukaku next but the 30-year-old has a fractured relationship with Blues supporters.

Lukaku has a £20million-a-year offer on the table from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, which he has initially rejected but could yet return with no other club willing to match his £325,000-a-week wages at Chelsea.

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Koulibaly is more relaxed about his future and is keen to stay at Stamford Bridge.

The 31-year-old has struggled since his £35m transfer from Napoli last summer but would happily fulfil his contract, which runs until 2026.

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