The Nerazzurri are trying to find the missing funds.
As in the spring of 2021, Romelu Lukaku faces a difficult choice. The Belgian striker is back in shape, he’s doing great at Inter, but there’s an opportunity to try again at Chelsea, now led by a new coach. Let’s analyze how the story develops around the 30-year-old striker.
He gave a controversial season
Romelu fails Premier League since his move from Everton to Manchester United. Only as part of the Mancunians did the 30-year-old striker maintain at least some level of performance. In Italy, on the contrary, everything was great: the center forward was perfectly suited to the level of intensity of Serie A, was the leader of Inter for two seasons, won the league and silver, scored more than 20 goals in 19 campaigns /20 and 20/21. But in Chelsea everything was very sad.
Difficult to return to the Nerazzurri. Here the expectations of the test at Chelsea did not come true for the player himself, and the Milanese fans perceived the player’s loan negatively – he was considered a traitor, although there were no open conflicts. An injury at the start of the championship only added fuel to the fire: after a goal and an assist in the first three rounds of Serie A, Lukaku ended up in the hospital and remained there from the end of August to the second half of October, and after the match against Sampdoria he only took the field in January. The same thing happened in the Champions League: in the group stage, the massive Belgian played only against Viktoria Pilsen.
After such a tough first part of the season, the attacker took some time to get back in shape. But in the spring Romelu flourished: during this period he scored 8 goals and gave 5 assists in 13 matches in Serie A and in the playoffs Champions League brought victories over Porto, Milan, knocked out Benfica. After such an achievement, the heads of the Italian giant had much more reason to continue the collaboration.
Belgians are welcome at Chelsea
True, the “aristocrats” are not eager to betray the attacker. Yes, the club didn’t have fun with the player at first, but everything has changed since then. There are many newcomers to the team, a new backbone is being formed, and another wave of personnel changes is coming in the off-season. The owner and almost all the management have changed. Thomas Tuchel left and Mauricio Pochettino was named head coach. The Argentine coach himself was ready to give the Belgian forward another chance – they planned to hold negotiations after the final Champions Leagueand the Blues wanted the player himself to declare his desire to play for Chelsea again.
The situation is quite understandable. The team simply doesn’t have a stable backbone after a massive purchase in the winter transfer window. First, due to the bloated supply, there are too many high-level players. Secondly, due to the fact that Pochettino is only arriving now. Graham Potter only picked up the lead scheme in March and started training the lead clip shortly before his dismissal. It made no sense for Frank Lampard to do this: he was just acting, and the leadership of Londoners was negotiating in parallel with the candidates.
Now the team separates from Edouard Mendy, Kai Havertz, Kalidou Koulibaly, the next step is the departure of Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount. At the same time Christopher Nkunku arrives, negotiations are underway for Victor Osimhen: the first plays forward, the second comes out the winner. And whether it is worth returning to the team with such a personnel reshuffle, when there is a more reliable option, is a big question.
Romelu wants to stay
Understands this and the attacker himself. The problem is that the negotiations are moving very hard. Already in May it was reported that the English giant would have asked for unbearable compensation for Inter for the transfer. The club must be able to afford expensive rent. The Nerazzurri were ready to compete for the Belgian if several conditions were met. First, at the exit Champions League – it has been done. Secondly, if the striker accepts a salary cut, Lukaku is ready to take such a step. Thirdly, if the British accept a more modest rent, and this is already a problem.
In the event of a lease, the Milanese want to agree on the inclusion in the agreement of a redemption option for 30 million euros, but the “aristocrats” are asking for a mandatory redemption. To speed up the transfer, the Italians are also considering selling goalkeeper Andre Onan Manchester United for 50 million. The Red Devils are awaiting an official offer, if the deal is closed the proceeds will be used to buy Romelu.
There are other contenders
As mentioned above, Pochettino wants to work with Lukaku, but it is impossible to agree with the Belgian forward – he is determined to stay at Inter. The Blues want to profitably sell the player and are not in the mood for another loan, while the Nerazzurri cannot yet accept the conditions dictated by the Londoners. In this state of affairs, the heads of the English giant went to Al-Hilal – in Saudi Arabia they just switched to the best European players, trying to increase the attractiveness of the championship. However, Romelu immediately rejected this option, and this despite the fact that the Sheikhs offer the Belgian a contract for more than 23 million euros per season.
There is another option: Milan. So Romel won’t have to change league and city. The Rossoneri are ready to take advantage of the slow pace of their neighbours: they are waiting for Tonali to be sold to Newcastle before making an offer to Chelsea. The “Aristocrats” will earn 40 million euros from the deal. By the way, the footballer himself does not want to go to the field of the worst enemy either.
Although the plot is far from the denouement, we have to wait for the outcome of the negotiations on Onan. But already now Lukaku’s transfer market saga is one of the main ones in the summer window.
