Chelsea CLOSE to selling Romelu Lukaku
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 13 Aug 2023 18:06 BST
- 4 min read
A conclusion to the Romelu Lukaku transfer saga may be finally nearing its end as Juventus have now raised enough cash to buy the Chelsea striker.
According to the Corriere dello Sport, Juventus have a positive balance of €67.5 million this summer when it comes to income and expenditure.
The Bianconeri have been working hard to offload players and lower the wage bill and are now in a position where they can afford to buy Lukaku.
This is the case, the Corriere reports, even without selling Dusan Vlahovic.
Juventus had been in swap talks with Chelsea to exchange Vlahovic for Lukaku plus a cash sum paid by the Blues.
READ MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals
But Chelsea decided to pull out of negotiations this week.
Nevertheless, even if Chelsea don’t resume talks for Vlahovic, the Corriere reports that Juventus now have the cash to buy Lukaku.
The Bianconeri will also be able to use the Growth Decree, which allows Italian clubs to pay less on taxes and thus reduces the costs of Lukaku’s salary.
READ MORE: Saudi Pro League summer transfers 2023: All the Done Deals
The prospect of Lukaku moving to Juventus has not gone down well with most Bianconeri fans.
What did Juventus Ultras say?
Juve’s Ultras made an anti-Lukaku banner last week which they held outside Juventus Stadium.
The banner read: “Lukaku stay in Milano. We already have a second goalkeeper.”
Juventus ultras with a banner to Lukaku: “Lukaku stay in Milan, we already have a second goalkeeper.” [Juventus Curva Sud via Daily Mail] #CFC pic.twitter.com/qd3INem7hJ
— CFCDaily (@CFCDaily) August 9, 2023
The goalkeeper reference was, of course, referring to the Champions League final when Lukaku stopped a goal bound shot from teammate Federico Dimarco that would have taken the match against Man City to extra time. As a result Inter lost the final 1-0 with Lukaku guilty of missing a sitter.
Their Instagram post accompanying the photo read: “Here you will never be welcome.”
Juventus fans also stormed the pitch during a pre-season friendly to make their feelings known that they didn’t want Lukaku.
Chelsea have been demanding €40 million for Lukaku but it remains to be seen if Juventus can lower that price.
Lukaku had originally been expected to return to Inter for a third time ahead of next season, having spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan from Chelsea.
However, the Nerazzurri suddenly stopped negotiations last month after being angered when Lukaku held talks with rivals Juventus behind their back.
As a result, Inter withdrew their transfer offer, leaving Juventus a free path to sign Lukaku.
Al-Hilal have also offered Romelu Lukaku an astronomical new salary offer in order to join the club.
But Lukaku has insisted on joining Juventus over moving to Saudi Arabia.
