Romano confirms Chelsea sale is 'VERY CLOSE'

Cameron Smith

22 Aug 2024 07:15 BST
4 min read

Napoli are on the verge of finalising a deal for wantaway Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku, as per Fabrizio Romano.

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Antonio Conte is desperate to be reunited with the Belgium international and after months of speculation, Lukaku is now close to joining Napoli.

The 30-year-old has spent the past two seasons on loan at Inter Milan and AS Roma, with his last Chelsea appearance coming against Leicester City back in May 2022.

Lukaku re-joined the Blues for a whopping €113 million in 2021, but after a controversial interview with Sky Italia - in which he revealed his desire to return to Inter - his career at Stamford Bridge was effectively over.

The Belgian has been training with a group of Chelsea outcasts throughout the summer and he is now on the verge of finally departing the club on a permanent deal.

That is according to transfer expert Romano, who posted on X: “Romelu Lukaku deal expected to happen as Napoli are advancing in talks with Chelsea.

“Napoli director will meet with Chelsea in London in the next 24h to proceed and try [to] find [a] final solution.

“All parties involved expect Lukaku to become [a] new Napoli player in the next [few] days.”

Romano then subsequently added: “Lukaku-Napoli, deal very close with clubs to meet in London in the next 24h. Plan confirmed.”

© IMAGO - Romelu Lukaku will be reunited with Antonio Conte at Napoli

Romelu Lukaku to join Napoli

Napoli had been expected to wait until Victor Osimhen’s departure before signing Lukaku, but they have opted to finalise a deal for the Belgian after a torrid start to the 2024-25 campaign.

Conte’s first Serie A game as Napoli boss saw them suffer a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Hellas Verona, while they only scraped past Serie B side Moderna on penalties during the first round of the Coppa Italia.

After the loss to Verona, Conte told the press: “We melted like snow in the sun. What I feel like saying is that we should apologise to the Neapolitan supporters, who follow us with such passion.

“I am the coach and it is right that I take full responsibility. I humbly apologise because the second half was unacceptable.

“There is only shame. I am ashamed as a coach. A thing like this has rarely happened to me, both as a player and as a coach. Today my heart is bleeding. Let’s see if anyone else is bleeding in the next few days.”