Inter are prepared to pay €20 million up front to sign Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United, according to FcInterNews.it.
The Nerazzurri will make a fresh offer for the Belgian striker when they hold new talks with the Premier League giants later this week.
The offer will be structured as a €20 million loan with an obligation to buy, which would be paid in two installments of €25-30 million and triggered when Lukaku makes his first appearance.
United show no signs of dropping their €83 million asking price and want €60-65 million up front, along with bonuses that will see the fee easily reach €75 million.
Lukaku’s agent Federico Pastorello recently reiterated to United that his client wants to join Inter, with whom he has agreed a five-year deal worth €7.5 million plus bonuses (which would take his annual salary up to €9 million).
Roma, Napoli and Juventus have all been linked with the 26-year-old but these rumours were described by FcInterNews.it as ‘imaginary’.
Inter could potentially guarantee United the €60 million sum they want up front by raising money through sales for Joao Mario, Miranda, Dalbert and Mauro Icardi.
Negotiations will take time and patience, which has led Lukaku to return to training with the rest of his United teammates.
United would only have until 8 August to find a replacement if they sold Lukaku because the English transfer window closes early.
This makes them even less likely to drop their asking price than they would otherwise have been, but Inter remain optimistic.
The Nerazzurri will accelerate their pursuit ahead of Saturday’s friendly in Singapore and remain determined to give Antonio Conte the striker he so badly wants.
