Inter Milan have blamed FFP provisions for their struggle to meet the £75 million price tag that Manchester United have slapped on Romelu Lukaku.
As quoted by Daily Mirror, Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta has claimed that Financial Fair Play constraints are restricting them from signing Romelu Lukaku this summer. The Nerazzurri want to sign two strikers in the current window and the Manchester United striker’s £75 million valuation is proving to be problematic.
By now, it is common knowledge that Inter Milan are hot in pursuit of Romelu Lukaku, with a big-money move being reported. The Serie A giants have themselves admitted to the interest in the Belgian striker, whose future at Manchester United is mired in uncertainty.
With Mauro Icardi frozen out of the first-team squad and a move away from San Siro being finalised, the need to sign a striker is imperative for Inter Milan. To that end, Manchester United striker Lukaku has been identified as the viable replacement for the former club captain.
The Manchester United hierarchy is reportedly open to the prospect of offloading the 26-year-old and cashing in on him, although manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly eager to retain his services. But, in recent weeks it has looked like Lukaku is closer to joining Inter Milan than staying put at Old Trafford, especially with the player yet to feature in the pre-season for United.
Inter boss Antonio Conte has been quite vocal about his frustrations over the outstretched period of negotiations, which are holding up the move. And now, the Nerazzurri’s CEO Giuseppe Marotta has claimed that FFP provisions are constraining the club in their pursuit of Lukaku, whose £75 million price tag has become an issue.
“We are seeking two strikers, one more experienced and another younger, because as of today we only have Lautaro Martinez. Last season we also had Keita Balde Diao and Mauro Icardi, now we have only one forward. We’re trying to ponder and evaluate the various profiles, but it’s a year of change, Conte and his new ideas have arrived, whereas next year we’ll certainly be more prepared and streamlined.
“Every decision will be made and shared with Conte, without doubt, but we must also recognise that there are economic balances to be respected and so we are keeping a close eye on the Financial Fair Play situation. We cannot make too heavy an investment, as we risk falling back into the UEFA bad books.”
Inter’s previous reported bid worth £60 million has already fallen short of Manchester United’s valuation of the striker. And, with Marotta going public over the club’s struggles to sign the Belgian, it looks like the player could now be in a limbo.
Only time will tell if the Serie A giants can do anything to reach an agreement with Manchester United over an amenable transfer fee. For now, it looks like Inter Milan’s pursuit of Romelu Lukaku is not reaching a conclusion just yet.
