Inter Milan are said to be hoping to finalize a deal to bring Romelu Lukaku back to the club this week.
Chelsea paid the striker just £97.5m 12 months ago, but his second stint at Stamford Bridge has turned into a nightmare.
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New Blues owner Todd Boyle and manager Thomas Tuchel are allegedly keen to get the Belgian off the wage bill.
Many fans described the attacker as the “worst transfer ever” with some fans now desperately wanting him to leave.
And Chelsea are open to discussing a loan move to free up space at Stamford Bridge for new additions.
The 29-year-old, who still has four years on his contract, has made it clear that he wants to return to the San Siro in his controversial interview last winter.
Inter cannot afford to buy him outright this summer – but talks are underway over a deal to get him on loan.
Now transfer expert Fabrizio Romano He offered an update on the situation and suggested that a deal could be struck in the coming days if the Serie A club met Chelsea’s request and paid a £8.5m loan fee plus add-ons.
He wrote on Twitter: “Inter are optimistic that the Romelu Lukaku deal will be completed by the end of this week. An offer of 7 million euros plus extras has been made, and Chelsea asked for 10 million euros. Plus add-ons.”
“There is no obligation to purchase an item included in the negotiations as there is. It was never discussed.”
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The partisans had plenty to settle with, with Inter unable to pay all of Lukaku’s £325,000 salary.
But he appears to have solved that problem himself as he is said to be willing to take a pay cut – which could cause him to halve his salary to secure a loan deal and put a rough year at Chelsea behind him.
Lukaku managed just eight Premier League goals in his disappointing comeback season and quickly lost his place to Kai Havertz in the second half of the season.
