Chelsea have set sights on Lautaro Martinez in the summer and plot a part-exchange with Inter Milan involving Romelu Lukaku plus cash.
Lautaro Martinez might look at his future and decide to leave Inter Milan for a new challenge. According to Calciomercatoweb, Chelsea are now among those keen and plotting a part exchange deal to tempt the Nerazzurri.
Lautaro Martinez has had an indifferent season with his club and country. While the World Cup-winning striker did not play a massive part in Argentina’s success in Qatar, he is steadily coming into the fore for Inter Milan in the latter stages of the season.
Martinez played a key role in Inter Milan’s Champions League quarter-finals against Benfica. He hopes to make a mark in the all-Milan semifinals scheduled for later and aims to take the Nerazzurri to the final. Beyond that, there are doubts about the Argentine’s future, with Premier League clubs circling.
Reports have suggested Martinez remains aware of Premier League interest in him. Arsenal and Tottenham have been long linked with a move, with the World Cup-winning striker open to joining an English club. Inter Milan’s valuations could still prove a stumbling block, as they could demand around €90-100 million.
Martinez will surely have plenty of suitors, including Real Madrid, who are reportedly keen on him. Chelsea have now set sights on the World Cup-winning striker ahead of the summer and plan on an ambitious part-exchange deal for the Inter star.
The No.9 role remains a potential problem for Chelsea, and they will enter the market to sign a high-profile player in that position. Players like Victor Osimhen and Dusan Vlahovic have seen their names linked with a move. But the Blues are now keen on Martinez.
The London giants are ready to offer wantaway striker Romelu Lukaku in part-exchange. Chelsea could offer the 29-year-old Belgian plus cash to tempt Inter into selling Martinez. The total value of a deal could reach €90-100 million, including the player in question.
Lukaku left Inter Milan to join Chelsea in a then-club-record deal but failed to make his mark upon his return to Stamford Bridge. New owners immediately shipped the 29-year-old out, and he readily joined the Nerazzurri on loan.
Chelsea are aware of a big problem in the summer due to Lukaku’s impending return. The striker will have three years left on his deal with massive wages. The Blues are already pondering a part-exchange involving the Belgian for Joao Felix. They also know Inter Milan remains uninterested in keeping him.
Inter Milan did not see the best of the Belgian and will not re-sign him under any circumstances. If Chelsea offers plenty of cash plus Lukaku for Martinez, they might even consider the deal, provided the Belgian takes a generous pay cut.
For now, the speculation will continue to grow about Martinez’s future as he might ponder a new challenge in the cash-rich Premier League. Spain could also become an option, but most of the interest comes from England, particularly London.
