Inter Milan are targeting Romelu Lukaku this summer in a mega-money loan deal.
Chelsea striker Lukaku, 29, would be reluctant to leave Stamford Bridge just one year after re-joining the club in a record £97.5million deal. But Lukaku wants to know whether he has a future under Thomas Tuchel having fallen out of favour last season.
But his former club Inter are keen on a reunion, although the figures are likely to be mouth-watering as Chelsea would be reluctant take a huge financial hit on the Belgium star. Having re-signed him for a record fee and put him on wages of £200,000-a-week plus with a big image rights package, it will be a difficult deal and package for Inter.
Lukaku has never hidden his desire to return to Italy - and specifically Inter - and did a bombshell interview at the end of last year when he admitted he wanted to return in the future. That further strained relations with Tuchel who has often struggled to accommodate him in Chelsea’s line-up and preferred to use Kai Havertz as a false nine in the biggest games.
Inter have already made overtures to Lukaku’s representatives and reports in Italy suggest that they have held talks. The figures being discussed would mean a huge £20m loan fee for the first year with a fixed price of around £65m written into the deal for him to sign permanently in 2023.
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Lukaku would also potentially have to take a wage cut to get the deal done and it would also mean that he effectively admits his return to Chelsea was a mistake and did not work. New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is targeting two marquee signings as a statement of intent and if they lose Lukaku then they would surely have to buy another striker.
Wolfsburg have shown an interest in Timo Werner but the Germany international has turned his fortunes around in recent months while Manchester United are interested in N’Golo Kante.