Lukaku U-turn in Chelsea transfer latest

Stuart Telford

• 11 Jul 2023 15:37 BST
• 3 min read

Romelu Lukaku will be given time to complete a permanent transfer to Inter Milan this week after Mauricio Pochettino had initially called for his return for pre-season training this Wednesday.

Lukaku spent last season back on loan with Inter, with whom he won Serie A in 2021, and it is widely acknowledged that player and club want to make that arrangement permanent.

Lukaku bombed after moving to Chelsea for €115m the summer before last, scoring just eight times in 26 Premier League outings before returning to Inter, but new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino wanted to take a closer look at him.

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"He needs to come back on 12 or 13 July to be part of the squad and start pre-season," he said. "When the player arrives the first thing they do is come to my office to say hello. That's what I expect if he's still a Chelsea player."

Chelsea give Inter time

But the Blues have reportedly performed an about turn regarding Lukaku's future, giving him the rest of next week for Inter to meet their £40m valuation, saving face for all parties involved.

"Inter will make a new offer for Lukaku, over £25 million plus bonuses to get to around £35 million, which still falls short of Chelsea's £40 million valuation," reports The Telegraph's Matt Law.

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Chelsea have bought Villarreal's promising striker Nicolas Jackson for €37m this summer, and the Senegalese starlet looks set to be handed the No.9 role occupied by Kai Havertz, who has since been sold to Arsenal.

Inter could soon fund a deal for Lukaku with Andre Onana on the cusp of completing a €55m move to Manchester United.

Chelsea have previously been in the race to sigh Onana, but are now set to give Kepa Arrizabalaga the chance to prove himself as a viable No.1 under Pochettino.