AC Milan are reportedly eyeing an ambitious swoop for Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku despite his former association with Inter.
A recent report from Goal has dropped an interesting update on the future of Romelu Lukaku. The underperforming Chelsea frontman has recently emerged as a target for AC Milan, who are eyeing an ambitious swoop for the striker in the upcoming summer transfer window.
After a disastrous start to the 2021/22 campaign, it is no secret that Lukaku is desperate to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer. And it appears Milan are ready to offer him an escape route next season, though the entire operation could hinge on multiple factors.
As things currently stand, Milan are not in a position to afford Lukaku. The Belgian international was brought in from Inter Milan in a deal worth £100 million. Their owners Elliott Management are not willing to sanction any big-money move for a star player, adopting a far more calculated approach in the market.
However, the Rossoneri are hoping Chelsea’s new owners could be willing to cut their losses by offering a large discount on Lukaku in the summer. Milan’s owners themselves are in talks with a Bahrain-based consortium over a potential takeover later this year.
While the American owners are not too keen on spending the big bucks on the market, many believe their Middle Eastern counterparts will be more than willing to lure in star players to help Stefano Pioli further strengthen his side ahead of the new season.
That said, Lukaku does have a close bond with Inter Milan, having played for the club for a couple of years under Antonio Conte. He had been highly successful with the Nerazzurri, notably helping them win the Serie A title last season. Although the Belgian’s summer exit did cause animosity between him and the fans, the player still has high respect for the club and reportedly wants to return to Inter in the summer.
Given his close association with the Nerazzurri, it is hard to imagine Lukaku agreeing a move to their direct rivals. Not to mention, the Chelsea striker has no shortage of suitors, with even Paris Saint-Germain exploring the possibility of securing his services at the end of the season.
Since returning to Chelsea, Lukaku has scored just five goals from 21 Premier League games and is currently behind Kai Havertz and Timo Werner in the pecking order under manager Thomas Tuchel. An exit could thus be on the cards in the summer, but a move to AC Milan is unlikely to come to fruition.
