Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku is reportedly ready to force a move to Serie A club Inter Milan by taking up a massive salary cut.
According to a report from Tuttosport, Romelu Lukaku is staring at an uncertain future at Chelsea. After a forgettable return to the Premier League, the forward is desperate to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer and has his heart set on a move to his former club Inter Milan.
Lukaku is aware of Inter’s poor financial situation which will make it almost impossible for the Serie A giants to afford the striker. But in an attempt to ease the operation for the Nerazzurri, Lukaku is prepared to take a significant salary cut at Inter.
The forward currently earns around €15 million per season. But Lukaku is prepared to halve his salary and settle for a package of around €7 million. It is quite the salary cut for a player of his calibre and is indicative of his desire to return to Giuseppe Meazza after a horrid 2021/22 campaign at Chelsea.
When Lukaku was brought in from Inter last summer, he was decried as the missing piece of the Chelsea puzzle. The Belgian international was expected to solve the club’s goalscoring problems and add the physical and aerial presence upfront, effectively becoming an ideal strike-partner for Timo Werner.
But with the 2021/22 campaign already done and dusted, it appears both Werner and Lukaku could be on the verge of leaving Stamford Bridge this summer. Lukaku, for one, netted only eight goals for Chelsea in the Premier League this term, and his seemingly dysfunctional relationship with Thomas Tuchel has led to an uncomfortable season in west London.
Despite his lack of productivity and poor form at Chelsea, Lukaku has had no shortage of suitors. The Belgian international remains a top target for a myriad of top clubs across Europe, although the striker has already rebuffed AC Milan and Newcastle United.
It appears the former Manchester United starlet has his heart set on a move to Inter Milan. The forward shares a close relationship with the Nerazzurri and believes he can rekindle his career back in Serie A.
However, the operation could be quite tricky for Inter despite the player’s willingness to take up a large salary cut. In order to sign Lukaku, they would have to reach an agreement with Chelsea. But the Serie A giants are only prepared to entertain a loan deal for the striker, knowing they cannot afford Lukaku’s price tag.
At the end of the day, the fate of his transfer saga could depend entirely upon the whims of the new owners at Chelsea and whether or not they are prepared to cut the losses by offloading the Belgian international on a cut-price deal this summer.
