Aston Villa and Chelsea have sealed the agreement over a deal for out-of-favour Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who wants to join Serie A club Napoli this summer.
According to a report by Il Mattino, as relayed by Calcio Napoli 24, Romelu Lukaku is the subject of interest from Napoli. The Chelsea outcast is keen on joining the Serie A club in the summer transfer window. However, the Blues have agreed to sell the veteran striker to Aston Villa, although the Villans still need to sort out the personal terms.
The Romelu Lukaku lore
Romelu Lukaku has not been a happy camper throughout his two spells with Chelsea. While the experienced attacker did not get enough opportunities to make his mark for the West London club in his first stint, he was on top of his game when they re-signed him from Inter Milan in August 2021.
However, the 31-year-old was miserable in the 2021/22 season, with an infamous interview spelling doom for him at Chelsea. The West London club loaned him to Inter Milan in the summer transfer window of 2022, while AS Roma completed a season-long deal last year.
The Belgian international was top-notch for AS Roma last season, amassing 21 goals and four assists in 47 appearances for the Serie A outfit. However, Lukaku does not have a long-term future at Chelsea, although he does not have a shortage of suitors, with Aston Villa joining Napoli in the battle for his signature.
Where next?
Napoli’s interest in Romelu Lukaku is understandable. While the Serie A giants have Victor Osimhen in their first-team squad, the Nigerian international will likely depart from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in the summer transfer window. So, Lukaku has emerged as a viable target, with the Chelsea outcast keen on joining the Partenopei.
However, Aston Villa’s entry into the picture has complicated matters for Napoli, with the West Midlands club securing an agreement with Chelsea regarding a move for Lukaku. With Jhon Duran facing an uncertain future at Villa Park, the Belgian international is a viable target to replace the Colombian international.
So, the out-of-favour Chelsea striker is an option worth considering for Aston Villa. However, the 31-year-old is eager to join Napoli and has given his word to the Serie A outfit. It will be interesting to see where he plies his trade in the 2024/25 season.
