Thomas Tuchel’s number one priority in the transfer market is a move for a new striker.
Although Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland is at the very top of the German’s wishlist, a move for Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku still isn’t entirely off the cards.
With Inter Milan struggling financially as a result of the pandemic, a deal to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge was thought to be possible if Chelsea wanted to go down that transfer route.
Lukaku scored 24 goals in Serie A last season as he went onto win the league’s MVP award - and there’s always been a sense of unfinished business between him and Chelsea.
Since his Blues departure seven years ago, the Belgian has developed into one of the world’s best strikers, and with Chelsea in need of exactly that calibre of player, rumours of a possible return started to resurface.
However, it seems as though any potential transfer will have to wait – at least for the time being – as Inter’s CEO, Giuseppe Marotta, has finally made the club’s Lukaku stance clear.
“Can Lukaku be considered non-transferable? From our side, yes, absolutely,” he told Italian outlet Sportmediaset, via The Chelsea Chronicle.
“Lukaku is an important element in this chessboard at Simone Inzaghi’s disposal.”
Of course, no deal is ever entirely off the table, but this news does suggest that Inter aren’t going to consider any lowly offer.
According to Tuttosport, Inter do want to keep hold of their talisman – despite their precarious financial situation – and would demand a nine-digit fee if any club was intent on prising him away.
That might be a little too steep – even for a club with Chelsea’s spending power – to spend on a 28-year-old, thus going in for Haaland may be their best long-term option.
Do you want an exclusive pre-season Chelsea preview - both in your inbox and through your letterbox? Head over here to find out more and secure your copy!
