Argentina star Lautaro Martinez has delivered Chelsea a monumental transfer blow with his Inter Milan transfer request amid Romelu Lukaku uncertainty.
Todd Boehly and his newly formed consortium are already seeking out a new number 9 for the current World Champions, just a. year on from when the previous regime splurged a club record £97.5million on Serie A star Lukaku. However, despite a quick start to the season, the Blues' number 9 never really got going with the end of 2021/22 signifying a mini upturn in form ahead of the summer transfer window.
For Arsenal, they are on the lookout for a new number 9 after Edu failed to bring in a Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang replacement in the January transfer window. Instead, they had to make do with both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette until the end of the season, with the former of the pair set for a new bumper contract. Elsewhere in North London, Antonio Conte's Tottenham were more than equipped to take on their top-four challenge with both Harry Kane and Son Heung-min showing fine form throughout 2021/22.
READ MORE: Lautaro Martinez's agent has already dropped transfer hint amid Chelsea interest
One thing all three London heavyweights have in common is their interest in trying to poach Martine from Serie A with Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea the most recent to enquire due to the ongoing and uncertain situation surrounding their current number 9 ahead of the window opening on June 10.
This was according to The Athletic who had reported that Finalissima goalscorer, who was set up by Lionel Messi in the 3-0 win over Italy on Wednesday night, was on a list with the likes of Benfica's Darwin Nunez and Lille's Jonathan David as the search for the Blues' next talismanic attacking spearhead begins.
Worryingly, history could now repeat itself for the third-placed Premier League outfit who may have some convincing to do if we were to see Messi's international teammate ply his trade in West London next term.
This is because, after the Finalissima victory at Wembley Stadium, he made an Inter Milan admission that may have some consequences on what happens with Lukaku and his future with Simone Inzaghi's side in need of making room on the wage bill if they were to re-sign Serie A's MvP winner for 2020/21.
“My plan is clear: I really want to stay at Inter next season," he told foreign media in the mixed zone after the 3-0 victory for Lionel Scaloni's rejuvenated side.
"I’ve not received communications from the club as of today, I want to continue at Inter next season”.
Chelsea and Arsenal fans- who do you want your respective sides to sign in the forward position this summer? While Spurs fans, do your side need another number 9 with Harry Kane seemingly happy? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
