Chelsea set to raid Inter for reinforcements

Stuart Telford

• 5 May 2023 20:34 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea are set for an overhaul this summer with Todd Boehly putting the whole squad up for sale before seeking to appoint Mauricio Pochettino, and Inter Milan could be a source of much joy for the new manager.

American billionaire Boehly has already spent more than £600 million on new players since succeeding Roman Abramovich as owner last May, but three managers later and his return on investment has been 12th place in the Premier League and fear of an FFP investigation.

As revealed exclusively by FootballTransfers recently, Chelsea have made their entire playing squad available for transfer this summer, but once the books are sufficiently balanced, they are expected to splash the cash once again.

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea put ENTIRE squad up for sale

A swap deal with Inter Milan involving Andre Onana and Romelu Lukaku has been floated, but according to the Telegraph, both could find their futures at Stamford Bridge.

'Pole position' for Onana

"Chelsea are trying to manoeuvre themselves into pole position to sign goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan this summer," they report. "While they may have to pay around £40 million for Onana, the 27-year-old's salary is likely to fit within the club's wage structure…

"Romelu Lukaku will be asked whether or not he wants to be part of Pochettino's Chelsea revolution, [meanwhile],"

READ: Andre Onana: Chelsea FINALLY get a transfer right

Both players could solve a problem for Chelsea. The Blues have seemed uncertain of whom their No.1 should be between Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy almost since having both on the books, and Onana is an elite-level goalkeeper.

Lukaku flopped at Chelsea last season before returning on loan to Inter last summer, but he has begun to rediscover his best form in Italy at a time when Chelsea's top scorer is a converted midfielder with seven Premier League goals to his name in Kai Havertz.

Chelsea are expected to reignite their interest in Inter's Italy midfielder Nicolo Barella, meanwhile. Barella nearly joined the Blues from Cagliari in 2020, and they could have a space in central midfield with Mateo Kovacic flirting with Manchester City.