Romelu Lukaku looks set to leave Chelsea this summer and Juventus have emerged as the latest club interested in signing the striker.
Lukaku re-joined Chelsea in 2021 from Inter Milan for around £97m, but scored just eight Premier League goals and was sent back to Inter on loan last season. Inter are hoping to make that loan move permanent, but have been unable to agree a fee with Chelsea.
There has also been interest in Lukaku from Saudi Arabia, but the Belgian international wants to remain in Europe. And according to reports from Italy, fellow Serie A giants Juventus have made a shock swoop for Lukaku.
Tuttosport state that Juventus have made contact with Chelsea over signing Lukaku to 'test the waters'. The Blues are said to be demanding around €45m (£38.4m) for Lukaku and told Inter of Juventus' interest in the forward in an apparent attempt to drive up the price.
That is said to have left Juventus furious, with Inter poised to make a new bid for Lukaku once the sale of goalkeeper Andre Onana to Manchester United is finalised. Lukaku himself has previously stated that he would "never" join Juventus out of loyalty to Inter.
"Juventus or AC Milan? Never," he said. "I told Manchester United that I would go to Inter even if Juventus had made a better offer. Also in the future, in Italy, I will either play for Inter or go back to Anderlecht."
And both he and Inter have been open about their desire for him to return this summer, with Inter's sporting director Piero Ausilio stating earlier this month: "I don't like to talk about timing, but about ideas. Lukaku is an idea of ours, but he is a Chelsea-owned player.
"The dialogue never stopped with them, we know he cannot be handed to us for a second season on loan, so we are evaluating if it is possible to buy him outright. He knows full well that we want to bring him back here, we'll see if we can find the solution with Chelsea."
Inter president Steven Zhang, meanwhile, added: "He showed great attachment to Inter. He loves Inter, that's very clear. He's an amazing guy. But the guy has a contract with Chelsea, so we have to wait to talk to them to understand."
And when asked about Lukaku's future at his official unveiling as Chelsea's new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino said: "I think the personal situations all the parties know what we think. In that case he needs to come back on the 12th or 13th [July] to be part of the squad and start pre-season.
"When the player arrives the first thing they are doing is to come to my office to see me and say hello. That is what I expect if he is still a Chelsea player."
