Inter Milan are reportedly getting closer to re-signing Chelsea outcast Romelu Lukaku, who is expected to rejoin the Serie A giants in the coming days.
According to reputed Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, Romelu Lukaku’s long-running transfer saga could soon come to an end as Chelsea brace themselves for his departure. The Belgian international is closing on a move back to Inter, who could pay Chelsea around €10 million as loan fee (including bonuses) and also have an option to buy him for €60-70 million at the end of his loan term.
The Belgian striker has left no stone unturned in making it clear that he wants to rejoin Inter after falling out of favour with Thomas Tuchel last season. But the Serie A club cannot afford to sign him permanently and were believed to be scrapping for some kind of loan arrangement. And it seems that their efforts have not gone in vain as they are on the verge of completing the capture of Chelsea forward.
Lukaku’s dismal tenure at Stamford Bridge has tarnished his reputation to the point that he will go down as one of the biggest one-season flops and worst Premier League transfers of all time. The Belgian rejoined Chelsea last summer for a club-record fee but looks on course to return to his Inter Milan following his underwhelming return of just eight goals from 26 Premier League games.
While his output is still respectable, as a world-class striker, the numbers are less credible as per his usual Premier League standards. Not to mention, Lukaku created needless controversy after questioning Tuchel’s tactics and talking about his eagerness to return to Inter during a bombshell interview with Sky Italia.
?? #Lukaku, #Inter and #Chelsea are getting closer and closer: onerous loan (around € 10M bonus included) with option to buy is in finalization. ?✅
⏳ The ?? striker could already return to being ⚫? in the next few hours: the countdown can already start. ?⚽️ #CFC https://t.co/SzFRNbwpzs pic.twitter.com/xD1v853jhR
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) June 17, 2022
Nonetheless, the Belgian hitman will now try to resurrect his career in more familiar surroundings at Inter Milan, where he will reunite with Lautaro Martinez, who is being courted by Tottenham Hotspur but is expected to stay at San Siro.
The 29-year-old’s goal-scoring record in domestic and international football speaks for itself, which also shows that he has the ability to be one of the best strikers in world football given the appropriate circumstances, system, and confidence.
Inter are committed to sticking to their ambitious plans of having Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala and Lautaro Martinez in their attack next season. Once the Lukaku deal is over the line, Inter will be able to accelerate the final details with Dybala for a Bosman move as long as they can offload Alexis Sanchez, who is taking up Dybala’s room in the wage budget.
The Serie A giants may appear to be getting a better deal in the Lukaku transfer at first glance. But there has been a compromise according to other Italian reports, which claim that Inter are willing to let Denzel Dumfries or Milan Skriniar go as part of the package, while giving Chelsea a discount on the respective valuations of their prized assets.
Also Read: Three potential Romelu Lukaku replacements for Chelsea
Dumfries had a stellar season at Inter, who signed him last summer, and he directly contributed to ten goals last term. But the Serie A giants are cash-strapped, walking the tightrope of Financial Fair Play and under pressure to make a substantial profit in the transfer window, they desperately need to trim the wage bill.