REVEALED: Lukaku's STAGGERING wage cut and release clause after agreeing Chelsea exit

Suraj Radia

28 Aug 2023 21:09 BST
3 min read

Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea, 2023/24 — © ProShots

Chelsea have agreed to loan Romelu Lukaku to Roma after the striker agreed to take a substantial pay cut and the Italian side have an opportunity to make the move permanent.

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Lukaku has been training away from the Chelsea squad since returning from his loan spell at Inter, having been searching for opportunities to leave the club this summer.

And the Belgian appears to have finally got his move just before Friday’s transfer deadline after Roma struck a deal to bring Lukaku back to Italy, agreeing to pay a loan fee of £5 million to Chelsea.

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The Telegraph report that the breakthrough came when Lukaku agreed to a salary of £6m so that Chelsea would not have to make any contribution to his wages during his time in Italy.

Lukaku, who is believed to be on around £17m-a-year at Chelsea, also had to agree to take a further cut should he end up returning to Stamford Bridge next summer.

There is also a release clause of £37m in Lukaku’s new terms, which Chelsea believe sets the price for the 30-year-old next summer if he attracts interest with his performances at Roma.

Lukaku in last chance saloon after Chelsea lower demands

Chelsea had previously put a price tag of more than £40 million on Lukaku, which priced Inter out of a move after they only offered £26m, while the forward rejected interest from Saudi Arabia despite their proposal being worth significantly more.

Lukaku also held talks with Juventus, much to the fury of Inter, but any transfer was dependent on Dusan Vlahovic’s departure – something which has not happened despite Chelsea being offered the player in exchange.

The collapse in opportunities led to Chelsea altering their stance on a loan move, having previously insisted they were only willing to sell Lukaku permanently or require a clause making any temporary move an obligation to buy.

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That allowed Roma to make their move and Lukaku will now link up with his former manager at Manchester United in Jose Mourinho in the hopes of impressing enough to secure his long-term future next summer, either with the Italians or elsewhere.