Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku Could Stay At Inter Milan – But Only If Three Conditions Are Met

Chelsea-owned striker Romelu Lukaku could stay at Inter next season, but only if three separate conditions to met.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that Mauricio Pochettino must decided he doesn’t want the Belgian, Inter must qualify for the Champions League, and Chelsea must open up to a free loan for Lukaku’s loan to be extended.

Whilst Lukaku has not had the expected impact on his first season back on loan at Inter, to put it mildly, the 29-year-old’s displays in recent weeks have underlined what he can offer to the Nerazzurri.

A match-winning performance and goal off the bench against Porto was vital to the Nerazzurri’s path through the Champions League knockouts, whilst two goals and three assists in his last two Serie A matches against Empoli and Lazio have also made a clear statement.

Whilst Inter have still not made a clear decision one way or the other on whether they will keep Lukaku past the end of the season, if the feeling is that the Belgian will put injury problems behind him then they could look to do so.

However, it is not obvious that Chelsea will be inclined to agree another loan deal.

First of all, there is the will of incoming Blues coach Pochettino to consider – if the former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain coach is to be keen on having Lukaku at his disposal, it would certainly be a massive obstacle for Inter.

Then there is the matter of whether or not the Nerazzurri qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Right now, it looks virtually equally plausible that Inter will or won’t be playing in Europe’s top club competition come next season, and having the revenues from participation in it would be a vital condition to financial plans that accommodate bringing Lukaku back another season.

Lastly, the Gazzetta note, Inter will also ask Chelsea to agree a free loan for Lukaku, rather than a paid loan as the striker has been on this season, and if the Blues do not accept this condition then it is unlikely that he will be back at the start of next campaign.