Chelsea and Inter Milan have reached an agreement for Romelu Lukaku to return to San Siro on loan for the 2022-23 season. The 29-year-old scored 64 goals for Inter between 2019 and 2021. This was before returning to Chelsea in a pricey transfer last summer.
The Blues paid £97.5 million to bring him back to Stamford Bridge. However, the Belgium international struggled to make an impact during the 2021-22 season. He has only scored only 15 goals and provided two assists in 44 appearances. Lukaku’s contract with Chelsea has more than five years left on it. However, he has said he wants to return to Inter ahead of next season.
Inter have been in talks with Chelsea for some weeks, and the two teams have now achieved a deal, according to the Daily Mail. They could pay £8.5 million plus add-ons to bring Lukaku back to the club on loan. There would also be a video conference held on Monday to finalize the terms.
Chelsea are thought to have mentioned Inter duo Milan Skriniar and Denzel Dumfries during the negotiations, but no more players are expected to be involved in the transaction. Chelsea may increase their interest in Raheem Sterling as a result of Lukaku’s departure, with the England international potentially departing Manchester City this summer. The Blues believe the Citizens will let the attacker depart for about £55 million this summer because he just has one year left on his deal with the Premier League champions.
Chelsea have also been linked with Robert Lewandowski. However, Barcelona are in front of the line for the striker. Lewandowski has stated his want to leave Bayern Munich this summer.
Harsh statements from Lukaku
He had said
“I’m fine physically. But I’m dissatisfied with the scenario at Chelsea. Tuchel has opted to play in a different system – I will not give up, I will be professional. I am dissatisfied with the situation, but I am a professional, and I cannot give up now “
“I believe that everything that transpired last summer was not meant to happen this way… how I left Inter, how I left the club, how I interacted with Inter fans – this hurts me because it was not the appropriate time.” Now is the time for me to express myself. I’ve always stated that Inter is in my heart: I know I’ll return to Inter, and I sincerely hope I will. I’m in love with Italy, and now is the time to speak up and let everyone know what truly happened.
“I sincerely hope that I will be able to return to Inter not at the end of my career, but while I am still at the height of my game, to win more titles with them. I apologise to the Inter fan; the timing of my statements was incorrect: what you accomplished for me will live on eternity.”
Lukaku scored eight goals and gave one assist in 26 Premier League appearances last season. He also scored twice and assisted once in six Champions League matches.
The Belgian also scored three goals in ten FA Cup and EFL Cup matches. He also netted twice in two Club World Cup appearances.
