Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku is reportedly keen on sealing a return to Inter Milan and is prepared to lower his salary.
According to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport, Romelu Lukaku’s future at Chelsea remains uncertain as the striker is still keen on returning to Inter Milan at the end of the season. The Belgian forward made headlines by voicing his unhappiness at Stamford Bridge and opening up on his desire to return to San Siro.
Lukaku was considered the king of Milan after he netted an impressive 64 goals in under 100 competitive appearances. His tally of 24 goals and ten assists last season was pivotal in helping the Nerazzurri seal the Scudetto and put an end to Juventus’s hegemony over Italian football.
But a rather forgetful transfer window saw Inter lose manager Antonio Conte and star player Achraf Hakimi. Lukaku soon followed, returning to Chelsea in order to once again prove himself in the Premier League.
However, six months into his second stint at Chelsea, the forward has netted only five goals in 17 league encounters. He has produced a host of underwhelming performances that have frustrated the fans. Although Thomas Tuchel has been quick to defend the Belgian, time is surely running out for the star striker.
Chelsea themselves have faced criticism for the signing of Lukaku, even by the prominent figure of Thierry Henry. The former Manchester United striker, therefore, remains keen on sealing a move away from Stamford Bridge and returning to his former stomping ground, San Siro.
However, the report suggests a move to sign Romelu Lukaku could be seemingly impossible for the Inter Milan side that have embraced a rather pragmatic financial policy of late. In fact, the Nerazzurri might even be willing to offload star player Lautaro Martinez in the summer, amid interest from Liverpool.
So even though the 28-year-old is open to lowering his salary in an attempt to seal a move away from Stamford Bridge, Chelsea may have to rely on other suitors in their quest to offload Lukaku. There is no shortage of suitors for the striker, as it stands, with Paris Saint-Germain among the clubs reportedly keeping close tabs on his situation.
But a lot will depend on how much Chelsea demand for the services of the Belgian international as not many clubs would be willing to shell out in excess of €100 million like the Blues did last summer.
