Lukaku offered €23m-per-year deal as Inter step up Chelsea talks

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 14 Jun 2023 08:58 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku’s future remains uncertain, with a second club joining Champions League finalists Inter in the pursuit of a permanent deal for the No.9.

Lukaku made a British record move of €115 million when he joined the Blues from Inter in the summer of 2021, but after a disappointing season at Stamford Bridge, where he had made his unhappiness clear, he was loaned back to the Serie A side.

A contribution of 14 goals and seven assists in 37 games has been enough to persuade the Nerazzurri that Lukaku is a player worth retaining, and they are seeking to manufacture a deal for the player.

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In addition, they are working on a deal to sign Kalidou Koulibaly, who has been another big-money Serie A flop at Chelsea.

However, they face a serious new threat in their challenge to sign the Belgium international.

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Lukaku as Messi's replacement?

According to The Guardian, Al-Hilal are ready to step up and sign the 30-year-old.

The newspaper reports that Lukaku has been offered a contract that could be worth up to €23m (£20m) per year by Al-Hilal, who were unsuccessful in their pursuit of Lionel Messi. The Argentine was offered a reported €1 billion over two years but snubbed the opportunity to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia by instead opting for Inter Miami.

The striker met officials from the Saudi Pro League side in Paris earlier this week to discuss a potential move. This meeting came after Chelsea owner Todd Boehly met with Al-Hilal officials last week in Saudi Arabia with an eye on offloading the Blues’ excess talent to the big-spending club.

Lukaku’s preference, though, is to remain in Europe, according to the report, with Inter his ideal destination.

The situation is complicated, though. Despite Inter’s run deep in the Champions League, they remain beset by financial problems and raising funds to persuade Chelsea to part with Lukaku, who could cost €58m (£50m) in transfer fees. Matching his wage could also prove problematic.

Al-Hilal have no such problems, with Lukaku set to have his wages virtually doubled from €12m per year if he were to join the Saudi Pro League outfit.

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