AC Milan are reportedly lining up a sensational move for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Inter.
Lukaku joined the Blues for a then club-record fee in the region of £97.5million in the summer of 2021.
He did hit the ground running before a controversial interview with Sky Italia in which he confessed his love for Inter and criticised Thomas Tuchel’s tactics, which derailed his first campaign back at the club after a failed stint between 2011 and 2014.
Inter rescued the Belgian international by bringing him back to the San Siro on a season-long loan last summer.
Injuries plagued Lukaku’s season, but he did manage to score a respectable 10 goals in 26 Serie A appearances and three in eight as Inter reached the final of the Champions League, losing 1-0 to Treble winners Manchester City.
Lukaku is set to return to Chelsea ahead of 23/24, but it appears new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is not looking to give him another chance, which probably suits the player as he seeks another season – at least – at San Siro.
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And he may well get his wish, but not in the way anyone expected.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter’s arch-rivals AC Milan are looking to sign Lukaku when they get the funds from the sale of Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United.
Tonali will reportedly join the Magpies for around €70m (£60.25m), which the Rossoneri will look to reinvest in a new striker.
They are pinning their hopes on Lukaku making the ‘surprise’ switch, which many have done before him to be fair, in a deal worth €40m (£34.4m).
The report says Tonali’s transfer could trigger a ‘domino effect’, with Milan looking to sign Lukaku, Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram, and Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi.
It is said in the early hours of Thursday morning the Milan hierarchy came up with the ‘sensational idea’ of signing Lukaku after his season at their city rivals.
Inter are ‘talking to Chelsea’, where it is ‘hard’ to see him staying beyond this summer. The Nerazzurri are hoping to strike another loan deal, which could benefit Milan in their pursuit, as they want to sign the 30-year-old on a permanent basis.
Thankfully for interested parties, Chelsea are not going to ask for anything close to the £97.5m they paid for Lukaku and would be open to selling him for around £34m, which Milan will be willing to pay when Tonali is officially sold.
Of course, Lukaku’s ‘head will be decisive’ as he weighs up the opportunity of once again stabbing the Inter faithful in the back, this time with a fatal blow.
Inter are hopeful the former Manchester United striker will not join their ‘cousins’, but ‘never say never’.
The report adds that Milan remain interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Lukaku has also been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. However, he is reportedly not keen to make the switch.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has said Lukaku has ‘no intention’ of moving to the middle east as Chelsea work on a deal to sell him.
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