Chelsea man has ‘sent clear signals’ over Italy return and is ‘open to pay cut’ – source

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has ‘sent clear signals’ over a return to Inter and is even willing to take a pay cut when re-joining the Nerazzurri, according to one source.

Lukaku scored 30 goals in 44 games last season as Inter won the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years. He also found the net in the Champions League and Coppa Italia, although Inter were unable to make it a double or treble.

Lukaku left the San Siro in the summer as Chelsea paid £97.5million to re-sign him. However, it has not been a dream reunion at Stamford Bridge for the Belgium international.

He has had to deal with coronavirus and injuries. The 28-year-old was also dropped by manager Thomas Tuchel following a bombshell interview with Sky Sport Italia about his struggles in England.

To make matters worse, Tuchel is reaping the rewards of playing Kai Havertz up front instead. The 22-year-old has hit four goals in his last three Premier League outings.

Lukaku’s troublesome campaign, plus Chelsea’s financial worries, have led to suggestions of an early exit. And Inter are one of the clubs that may look to engineer a deal.

Romelu Lukaku has ‘sent clear signals’

Italian journalist Fabrizio Biasin has now given a big update. The Tuttomercatoweb reporter wrote in Tuesday’s column (via Sempre Inter): ‘Lukaku has sent very clear signals to [Giuseppe] Marotta [Inter’s CEO]. He would even be willing to reduce his salary.’

However, not all signs point to an Inter return for Lukaku. Biasin adds that the player’s transfer back to Milan would be an ‘over-complicated’ one.

Furthermore, Marotta has already spoken about the difficulties of re-signing players for the Italian outfit.

As such, there is unlikely to be a reunion this year, barring any ‘miracles’.

Striker left out of national team 

Lukaku will have been hoping to improve his situation by getting on the scoresheet for Belgium during the international break. But manager Roberto Martinez has gone with youth in his latest squad.

That means Lukaku will have a rest, along with senior team-mates Kevin de Bruyne and Dries Mertens.

Instead, Lukaku will have to improve his fortunes when Chelsea return to action. The Blues play Brentford on Saturday April 2 at 15:00.

Four days later, Tuchel’s men come up against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

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