Chelsea or Inter? Romelu Lukaku reveals where he wants to play next season

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 21 May 2023 14:49 BST
• 3 min read

Romelu Lukaku has made it clear he wants to stay at Inter Milan next season and is willing to take a significant pay cut to make it happen.

Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Lukaku is desperate to prolong his spell at San Siro but Inter cannot afford his current salary.

As a result, Lukaku is willing to take a big pay decrease to ensure he is still at Inter in 2023-24.

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

Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta has publicly confirmed that Lukaku will initially return to Chelsea at the end of the season.

It will then be assessed in June whether a new loan deal can be agreed to bring Lukaku back in a separate move.

Inter financial problems

Inter cannot afford to pay a transfer fee for Lukaku due to their financial problems but even a loan is difficult unless the Belgian take a big pay cut.

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

But Lukaku has been reborn since the March international break and has been in fantastic form - helping the Nerazzurri to the final of the Champions League and Coppa Italia.

Inter are now considering whether to keep Lukaku, and the striker is doing everything he can to help.

Incoming Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is a big fan of Lukaku and is 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.

But Lukaku has already made it clear that he only wants Inter.