Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly closing in on a return to Serie A club Inter Milan after failing to impress in London.
According to Calciomercato journalist Federico Bergomi (h/t Tribal Football), Romelu Lukaku is close to returning to San Siro following a troubled season with Chelsea. The Belgian striker had returned to the west London club just last summer in a big money move, but things turned sour quickly, and he could be on the move again.
An Anderlecht youth product, Lukaku’s first move came in 2011 when Chelsea signed him up for €15 million. The then-youngster failed to cement a spot in the club’s first team and was sent out on multiple loan spells. The towering striker impressed on loan, first at West Bromwich Albion and then at Everton.
For West Brom in the 2012/13 season, Lukaku scored 17 goals in the Premier League, prompting Chelsea to hold on to him for the next season. But Lukaku did not get enough game time, making just two league outings for them that season. Everton then came calling, and the striker spent his next four seasons at Goodison Park, one on loan and three after joining the Toffees permanently.
The Belgian was a hit at Everton, scoring 87 goals for them in 166 appearances. His form for the Merseyside club convinced Manchester United that Lukaku would solve their striking woes. But the union between the two parties wasn’t all that rosy. He scored 42 goals for them in 96 appearances, but his game time gradually declined and he moved to Inter Milan in 2019.
The Nerazzurri, under Antonio Conte, went on an upward curve, which eventually culminated with the 2020/21 Serie A title triumph. And Lukaku was at the forefront of their resurgence. In 95 matches for them, he scored 64 goals and provided 16 assists. But the association ended in 2021 with Lukaku rejoining Chelsea in a blockbuster move.
However, he has not been able to recapture the form he showed at Inter Milan and Everton and has managed just five league goals. Lukaku has not fit into Thomas Tuchel’s system, and his comments in December last year further fuelled rumours of an imminent exit.
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Now Inter seem to be interested in re-signing him, and Lukaku too is reportedly ready to take a pay cut to earn a return to San Siro. With Edin Dzeko in the twilight of his career, Lukaku could be just the man to take the place of his replacement. And with Federico Bergomi suggesting that a move could be in the offing, we could see Lukaku leave Chelsea to return to Serie A.
