The future of striker Romelu Lukaku at Inter could be at stake in this evening’s Champions League round of sixteen second leg match against Porto.
This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who note that the €20 million that is up for grabs in terms of prize money for reaching the quarterfinals corresponds close to the cost of the Belgian’s loan from Chelsea.
The total cost of Lukaku’s loan move from Chelsea, including the loan fee if all add-ons are to be triggered and the 29-year-old’s gross wages for the season, would come to around €20 million, Tuttosport notes.
The €20 million that Inter would gain in revenues from appearing in the quarterfinals of Europe’s top competition is expected to have a bearing on how the club approach the upcoming summer transfer window.
Tuttosport suggest that it could be Lukaku’s future that is most in the balance for the summer.
The newspaper also notes that given that Antonio Conte is persistently linked with a return to the Nerazzurri now that his time at Tottenham Hotspur appears to be coming to an end, the coach’s return could be well-timed if Inter decide to extend Lukaku’s loan next season.