NOBODY wants Romelu Lukaku

Robin Bairner

• 17 Apr 2023 03:43 CDT
• 3 min read

Chelsea face the prospect of having to find a buyer for Romelu Lukaku this summer, with Inter having no intention of negotiating a new loan deal for the Belgium international forward.

Hopes were high that Lukaku would enjoy a spectacular campaign with the Nerazzurri after returning to the club on loan following a spectacular campaign in 2020/21, when he fired them to the Serie A title.

Lukaku has spent much of the season struggling to find his peak fitness – a problem that he also endured at Chelsea last term – and has failed to provide the goals that were expected of him. Indeed, he has only three Serie A goals in 18 matches.

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The Blues had been counting on Lukaku remaining in Italy for at least one further season but according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter are not even planning to negotiate over the forward.

The Belgium international has proved poor value for money given they have invested €20 million in him this season alone. With the Serie A outfit in need of slashing their wage bill, Lukaku represents an easy option to begin that process. Quite simply, he is not seen as an economic asset.

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Inter targeting Firmino and Thuram

Instead, Inter are set to look at alternatives who are likely to provide a better return on their investment.

The Italian side are studying the possibility of low-risk free transfer options such as Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino or Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram, who may be more difficult to sign given Premier League interest in him.

Other possibilities include new Italy international Mateo Retegui, who is under contract with Boca Juniors but playing on loan with Tigre, and would likely cost around €18m – around the same price that Inter have paid for one season of Lukaku.

Inter are also watching Lens striker Lois Openda, another Belgium international. The 23-year-old has scored 15 goals in 31 outings in Ligue 1 this season. With an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €30m, the player signed from Club Brugge for €10m last summer is likely to prove too expensive for the Serie A side.