Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Lukaku closing in on Inter return with three key potential clauses named, as Chelsea learn swap deal fate

Romelu Lukaku looks on as Chelsea play Real Madrid in Champions League quarter-final

Romelu Lukaku is closing in on a move from Chelsea back to Inter, who reportedly believe the signing is only a matter of time away.

The Blues thought Lukaku would be the striker to help close the gap between themselves and Liverpool and Manchester City. However, the club-record deal, worth £97.5million, has not worked out as hoped.

As a result, Lukaku wants to move back to Inter after only a season in his second Stamford Bridge spell.

Inter cannot afford to pay anywhere what they sold Lukaku for to bring him back to Italy. They have subsequently been negotiating a loan move, which has proved hard going.

However, The Times claims that Inter believe they can get Chelsea to compromise on their demands.

Chelsea want as much as £20million for a loan fee, but Inter believe £9million plus bonuses will be enough.

Meanwhile, 90min adds that Lukaku has agreed personal terms with Inter. He has agreed a slight pay cut and Chelsea are willing to pay some of his salary while he is in Serie A for the season.

However, he could be there for longer than just one campaign, with 90min adding some potential clauses into the mix.

A future fee could feature in the loan deal, as well as an obligation to buy. There could alternatively be another season on loan at the Serie A club.

In a third report on the situation, the Daily Mail reports that Chelsea are unlikely to bring any Inter players the other way as part of the Lukaku deal.

The Blues have had their eyes on Milan Skriniar and Denzel Dumfries, among others. But given the time it has taken to thrash out a basic loan agreement, Chelsea are happy to forget trying to secure a new signing too.

Lukaku finding goalscoring comfort again

Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea striker, during Premier League game v West Ham

Lukaku’s Chelsea return started exactly as hoped with strong form back in the Premier League.

However, his game time decreased and he blamed Blues boss Thomas Tuchel for his tactics in an eye-catching interview in December.

Lukaku also revealed in that interview that he wanted to move back to Inter – and not once his best days as a striker are over either.

The Belgium international netted 24 goals in the 2020/21 season to help fire the Serie A side to the title.

Inter Milan and Chelsea close to Romelu Lukaku deal

Inter Milan and Chelsea close to Romelu Lukaku deal

Chelsea and Inter Milan are close to agreeing a loan move from Romelu Lukaku with an obligation to buy

He will undoubtedly feature at the World Cup regardless of if he stays at Chelsea. However, the move back to Italy can ensure he heads to Qatar in peak form.

At his best form, Lukaku is a deadly goal threat who has proved his prowess in two of Europe’s major leagues, as well as on the international stage.

However, his patches of poor form seem to stand out more than those for other players. And he has struggled to hit his best heights at Chelsea, who are happy to see him go.