Inter Milan could be set to make their first move for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku. The Italian giants are understood to be interested in re-signing Lukaku this summer after he spent the 2022/23 season with them.
Chelsea prefer to sell Lukaku on a permanent deal rather than loaning him out again. The 30-year-old returned to the Premier League in 2021 in a deal worth £97.5million, however, the move did not live up to expectation and he was loaned back to Milan last summer.
The club have conceded that they are certain to make a loss on Lukaku, with reports last month insisting around £34million could be enough to complete the deal.
Now, Tutto Mercato Web have claimed that Inter are intending to spend the funds raised in Marcelo Brozovic's move to Al-Nassr to fund a permanent move for Lukaku. The Croatian midfielder signed for the Saudi Arabian side for £15million last week and I Nerazzurri will now focus on using the funds to structure a deal.
The report from Italy also claims a new meeting is set to take place between Chelsea and Inter next week. As well as a move for Lukaku, Andre Onana's situation could also be discussed following continued reports linking the goalkeeper to Stamford Bridge.
Inter Milan chief Giuseppe Marotta has recently remained tight-lipped over the prospect of signing Lukaku this summer. “Let’s not forget the move [signing of Lukaku] was made by the previous owners of Chelsea," he said.
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"So the new owners have to consider whether Lukaku is part of their project and plans for the future. If he is not, then their strategy will change.
“Obviously, they cannot think of putting him on the market for a big fee. I believe the offer from Saudi Arabia was circa €50million (£43million), which is still a long way off the fee that we got from Chelsea, which was €115million (£99million)."
He continued: “I don’t want to get into the dynamics. We are working as a team on the objectives we have set. I believe a director ought to be ambitious and not be embarrassed to aim high, but the deals ultimately depend also on the fee and the personal terms.
“Over the next few days, we will evaluate all those things keeping sustainability in mind.”
