Chelsea are set to part ways with Belgian international hitman Romelu Lukaku this summer as the De Rode Duivels all-time leading goalscorer is set to make his return to Italian giants Inter Milan.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirmed that the two clubs have agreed in principle to a deal that would see Lukaku back at the San Siro in 2022-23 in a straight one-year loan agreement, which also includes a £7million fee as well as add-ons.
🚨 Agreement in principle for Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan on straight 1yr loan. Fee €8m + addons. Salary & performance bonuses done. Medical expected next week. Sources indicate Boehly relationship with Roc Nation’s Yormark key @TheAthleticUK #CFC #Inter https://t.co/rhLsis7RZd
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 21, 2022
Lukaku is now expected to complete his medical next week, with new Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly already flexing his muscles while tapping into his existing relationship with Roc Nation president Michael Yormark in order to get the deal over the line.
The Antwerp-native enjoyed a brilliant spell at Inter before his ill-fated return to Chelsea this past summer, and his return to northern Italy now leaves the Blues with just Timo Werner and Kai Havertz as Thomas Tuchel’s only legitimate striking options, which could leave an avenue for Albanian starlet Armando Broja to push for a place in 2022-23 despite interest from West Ham.
Chelsea could now push harder to secure a potential deal for Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling in the wake of Lukaku’s departure, while the Blues have also been linked with potential interest in Gabriel Jesus as well as Ousmane Dembélé.
Thomas Tuchel will have to hope that the new Boehly regime will act quickly in supplying him with a new headline striker, however, with the German’s tactical schematic coming under considerable scrutiny on the back of Lukaku’s failure to settle to life back in London.
It will be vital for the Blues to solve their striker issue if they are to hopefully close the gap to Man City and Liverpool while staving off expected pushes from both Tottenham and Arsenal in the coming season.
