Inter Milan President Steven Zhang is thought to be holding up Romelu Lukaku’s return to San Siro this summer as he is not keen to fork out the significant outlay that Chelsea are demanding.
Lukaku joined Chelsea from Inter just 11 months ago, but a torrid season on and off the pitch has seen him pushing for a move away and a return to Serie A, where he enjoyed his most prolific season.
But, having cost over £100m, Thomas Tuchel and co. are understandably keen to try and get some return on their record signing. They are keen on any loan deal (which all parties are open to) including a hefty loan fee as well as a potential option or obligation to buy at the end of it.
That is where the deal is currently falling down. Chelsea are demanding a loan fee of 10m euros, while they would also expect Inter to pay all of his reported £340k per week wages.
🚨 Chelsea keen to close Romelu Lukaku loan but sources in Italy say deal held up by Inter Milan president Steven Zhang — said to have baulked at proposed loan fee/salary (€10m + cover whole wage they agree). Talks ongoing today @TheAthleticUK #CFC #Inter https://t.co/7ZG8QCEP4i
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 20, 2022
This has caused a problem, with President Zhang ‘said to have baulked at the requested loan fee and wages’, according to the reliable David Ornstein.
Talks are due to take place later on Monday in an attempt to smooth over the issues, and it seems as though the most likely outcome is that a compromise is reached for a player that all three parties seem to want to end up at Inter this summer.
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