Inter have shifted gears and are ready to start negotiating an extension of striker Romelu Lukaku’s loan from Chelsea past the end of the current season.
This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that the 29-year-old’s recent performances have convinced the Nerazzurri to put aside their previous reticence, as they want to keep hold of him next season.
Lukaku’s persistent struggles for fitness and form this season had led to Inter being very much unsure as to whether or not they would decide to seek another loan deal from Chelsea when his current one runs out.
The Corriere reports that until recently, Inter have been leaning towards declining this possibility.
However, as the Corriere notes, the Nerazzurri are already looking at the fact that, if the striker proves to be decisive in the round of sixteen tie against Porto in the Champions League, the €20 million or so earned for reaching the quarterfinals would be roughly equal to the total expenditure on loan fees and wages.
The club feel that, so long as the Belgian proves to be decisive on the pitch, there is no doubt on their part that their strategy will be to keep hold of him.