Romelu Lukaku ‘WILL agree to return to Chelsea if they meet Inter Milan’s £100m asking price… with the Blues ready to offer their former striker £250,000-a-week’ to get him back seven years after selling him
- Romelu Lukaku will agree to join Chelsea if his price is met, according to reports
- The Blues are in the market for a striker to lead the line for the 2021-22 season
- Lukaku, 29, left Chelsea in 2014 but would be willing to make a return to the club
- Cash-strapped Inter are demanding a £100m fee for their Belgian talisman
Romelu Lukaku will agree to a Chelsea reunion if the European kings make an eye-watering £100million swoop for the Inter striker, the Telegraph reports.
The Belgian has flourished at the San Siro after joining from Manchester United in 2019, firing the club to the Scudetto last season and subsequently ending Juventus’ dominance in Italy.
Former Inter boss Antonio Conte left this summer amid the club’s need to offload their star assets, although Lukaku was not expected to leave. However, Inter’s hand could be forced if Chelsea make a £100m move for their former striker.
Romelu Lukaku is reportedly willing to rejoin Chelsea if the Blues meet his £100m price tag
Attention has turned to Lukaku (right) with Chelsea struggling to land Erling Haaland (left)
According to the Telegraph, the Blues will have no issues convincing Lukaku to return to West London, with the Belgian ready to accept a move back to the club who sold him to Everton for £28m seven years ago.
Thomas Tuchel is desperate for a new striker ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, with £53m arrival Timo Werner failing to impress in his debut campaign.
Erling Haaland has been strongly linked with the Blues, however Borussia Dortmund remain determined to keep hold of their star man for at least one more season.
Inter have already rejected an opening offer of £88m plus defender Marcos Alonso, having landed Lukaku for £73m from United two years ago.
Thomas Tuchel is in the market for a striker to lead the line for the Blues for the new season
Lukaku, 29, is open to returning to West London and working with the German manager
Lukaku left Stamford Bridge in 2014 after failing to force a breakthrough into the first team. Despite his disappointing first spell at the club, the Belgian is understood to be interested in working with Tuchel after he led them to Champions League glory last term and feels like he has unfinished business at the club.
Chelsea are prepared to offer Lukaku a wage of £250,000-per-week, making the 28-year-old the club’s highest-paid player.
Both Chelsea and Premier League rivals Manchester City are in the market for a marquee striker this summer. The English champions are currently pursuing a move for Harry Kane, having been told by Inter in March that Lukaku was not for sale.
The Belgian failed to make a breakthrough at Stamford Bridge as a youngster and left in 2014
The Blues are understood to already have half the funds to finance an £85m move for Lukaku, while the sale of Tammy Abraham would make up for the rest of the transfer fee.
Abraham has interest from Aston Villa and Arsenal but Chelsea may have to lower their £40m valuation to sell him this summer.
Inter entered the summer needing to sell players due to their precarious financial situation, as a result of the club being badly impacted by the pandemic.
The sale of Achraf Hakimi to Paris Saint-Germain for £51.3m has relieved some of that pressure and put the Serie A club in a better position in their bid to keep hold of the 28-year-old.
Lukaku made 15 first team appearances for Chelsea during his time with the club, scoring no goals in West London. He has since bagged 193 goals across spells at Everton, United and Inter.