Romelu Lukaku receives ASTRONOMICAL transfer offer

Carlo Garganese

• 13 Jun 2023 11:02 BST
• 3 min read

Romelu Lukaku has received an astronomical contract offer from Al-Hilal.

According to Santi Aouna, Lukaku held a meeting with the Saudi Arabian club on Monday to discuss a possible transfer.

Al-Hilal offered a huge contract worth over €20 million a year in order to try and entice Lukaku to the club.

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Lukaku made it clear he is open to a move but has demanded an increased salary.

Al-Hilal will now consider whether to increase their offer, having recently missed out on the signing of Lionel Messi.

It is still understood that Lukaku’s preference is to stay at Inter for at least another season.

READ MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals

Lukaku returned to Inter last summer on a one-year loan from Chelsea.

The 30-year-old will now return to Stamford Bridge but Inter will look into whether a new loan deal can be done.

Inter cannot afford to pay a transfer fee for Lukaku due to their financial problems and they will require Chelsea to heavily subsidise the Belgian’s wages in any new loan.

Until recently, Inter were unwilling to keep Lukaku as he endured a dismal first two thirds of the campaign plagued by injuries and poor performances.

But Lukaku has been reborn since the March international break and had been in fantastic form going into the Champions League final - scoring nine goals in April and May.

That changed Inter’s mind and they are now very tempted about keeping the 30-year-old.

But incoming Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is also a big fan of Lukaku and reflecting on trying to convince the striker to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea need a new number 9 for 2023-24 and Pochettino believes Lukaku could be the man for the job.

Lukaku’s future now remains in the balance between Chelsea, Inter and Al-Hilal.

Lukaku came on as a substitute in Inter’s 1-0 defeat to Man City in the Champions League final on Saturday in Istanbul. The ex-Man Utd striker missed a big chance to equalise in the closing minutes.