Chelsea could possibly be set for a big transfer windfall with an eye-watering loan fee set for Romelu Lukaku reported to be around £20 million. The Belgian has flopped since returning to Chelsea in a £97.5m record transfer move last summer and has been tipped to return to his previous club Inter Milan.
With the Serie A runners-up struggling in consequence of monetary fair play regulations any everlasting return for the striker would currently prove not possible. Nevertheless, Lukaku may be very keen to go back to the Italian side and can be willing to take a big pay cut of around 50% to make it occur, in keeping with reports. Due to this fact, a loan deal can be a definite possibility and the one way any move could come off.
The Telegraph reports that the loan fee would sit as high as £20m and hence help Chelsea’s transfer budget significantly. Blues manager Thomas Tuchel may jump at the prospect to flog his flailing forward given the difficulties the pair have faced of their personal relationship since Lukaku’s explosive interview with Sky Italy in December.
The striker suffered one other difficult game again last night, limping off injured while his Belgian teammates were thrashed 4-1 by the Netherlands. He refused to comment on his future after the sport when asked by reporters stating that he ‘can’t discuss his future’.
The 102-times capped Belgian international has fallen far below what was expected of him since his return to England. He was signed to be the transformational force that might turn Chelsea into title contenders after their 2020/21 season was marred by a scarcity of a reliable number nine. Nevertheless, Lukaku has been unable to fulfil this role, scoring just eight times in 26 Premier League appearances.
Lukaku has made no secret of his admiration for Inter Milan even while at Chelsea. The Belgian spoke at length about his love for Inter during his Sky Italy interview in December.
“I actually have all the time said that I actually have Inter in my heart: I do know I’ll return to Inter,” he said. “I’m in love with Italy and I actually hope from the underside of my heart to return to Inter not at the top of my profession, but once I’m still at the highest level to win more together.”
A return to Italy may now be the answer that works one of the best for all parties involved. All eyes will rest on whether Inter can afford to pay the loan fee and permit Chelsea to hunt another option.
