Romelu Lukaku has emerged as a target for AC Milan in the summer transfer window, but if the 28-year-old commits to a deal then he'll be breaking a heartfelt promise. The Belgian striker faces an increasingly uncertain future at Chelsea after he was booed off the pitch by fans in the Blues' 4-2 loss to Arsenal.
The Italian giants could offer the Belgium international an escape route out of Stamford Bridge, according to Goal. Though, the report outlines that a move for the £77m-rated striker could be 'complicated' by the eye-watering cost.
Lukaku has struggled to acclimatise himself to the Premier League upon his return to west London in the summer from Inter Milan. He's scored just 12 goals in 38 appearances this season and his misfortunes in front of goal have seen him relegated to the bench.
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The Belgian has also courted interest from Paris Saint-Germain, according to The Athletic. The report outlines that the French outfit 'have the resources' to secure Lukaku's signature, but they 'haven’t yet given up hope' on extending Kylian Mbappe's future.
Though a move to PSG is reportedly on the cards, a return to the Serie A emerges as a greater opportunity to reignite the form he once enjoyed at Inter. Lukaku scored 64 times in 95 appearances under Antonio Conte prior to joining Chelsea, guiding the Italian side to the Scudetto after a nine-year draught.
However, if the Chelsea striker were to pen a move to AC Milan then he'd be breaking a promise that he made just months after joining the west Londoners. In a controversial interview with Sky Sports in December, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano, Lukaku said that he'd never join Juventus nor Milan - Inter's direct rivals.
"If Juventus or AC Milan will call me in the future? Never, never. Again, never. It's never gonna happen," he said. "Juventus wanted me before Inter, but when Conte joined Inter it was my priority to join them. In Italy there's only Inter for me."
But, despite Lukaku's faltering form and seemingly uncertain future, the Chelsea boss has insisted that the striker can finally prove himself. Ahead of the Blues' clash with the Gunners, Thomas Tuchel said: "For us it is clear - we can play with Romelu and we can be very strong with Romelu and we proved it. And we will prove it if he is involved and keeps involved mentally and he stays involved in the situation. He can grow from it and come back stronger.
"We will push him - we will push as far as we can and as long as the player stays involved in the mentality that is needed to bring a team forward he can still be a crucial player. I don’t think he needs inspiration,” he added. “What he needs is maybe that one moment, one spark."
