Hope gives life. Recruited by Chelsea in 2011 for € 15m when he was playing for Anderlecht, his training club, Romelu Lukaku (28) never had his chance with the Blues. He only wore the jersey of the English capital club on 15 occasions, chaining the loans (West Brom, Everton) before being definitively ceded to the Toffees in 2014. Since then, the Belgian international (98 capes , 64 goals) has taken on another dimension, now making the heyday of Inter Milan, reigning Italian champions thanks in particular to a very great Lukaku in 2020-2021 (24 goals, 10 assists).
What cause regret on the side of West London, where Chelsea has the nostalgic fiber. Since the opening of the summer transfer market 2021, the name of Romelu Lukaku has already been associated with his former club on several occasions. Thomas Tuchel, who lost Olivier Giroud at the forefront and who could also see Tammy Abraham leave this summer, wants to add a world-class goalscorer to support a delicate Timo Werner for his first season in the Premier League.
Chelsea ready to fold Inter
The Blues have meanwhile tried to draw Erling Haaland into their nets, to no avail. And although Inter Milan sporting director Giuseppe Marotta has already made it known that “Big Rom” is unsaleable, The Telegraph ensures this Monday that Chelsea do not let go of Romelu Lukaku. The English daily assures that the Belgian is back at the top of the priority list of attackers targeted by Chelsea, who are ready and determined to negotiate with the Milan club.
Always after The Telegraph, the good relations of the London club with the agent of the Red Devil maintain hope in this matter and suggest that an agreement can still be found with the Italian management. It remains to be seen at what price such a transaction could be carried out. The English media specifies that the price asked by Inter is much higher than what Chelsea seem willing to pay for Lukaku, bought € 74 million by the Milanese in 2019. The Italian press recently reported a maximum offer of 130 million € for the native of Antwerp. It will take at least that to convince the Nerazzurri to let go of one of their best elements, which for the moment would have pushed back the advances of his former team, but also to meet the requirements of the reigning European champion coach.
