Chelsea have turned down Inter Milan’s initial offer to sign Romelu Lukaku.
This according to UK news outlet FCInterNews, who report that the Nerazzurri have made a bid but that the Blues are still holding out for €45 million.
As of now, Lukaku remains a Chelsea player.
Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino even suggested that as things stand he expects the 30-year-old to be part of the Londoners’ preseason.
However, all parties are well aware of the player’s real intentions. Lukaku wants Inter, and nothing else.
Inter are now pushing harder than ever to sign the Belgian.
The Nerazzurri’s intention had been to sign Lukaku on a loan deal. However, the Blues’ continued lukewarm reception of loan offers has prompted them to offer a permanent purchase.
Reportedly, Inter want the fee to be somewhere around €30 million. This amount could go up quite a bit with the inclusion of all add-ons.
Chelsea Reject Inter Milan’s Initial Romelu Lukaku Offer – Still Holding Out For More Money
According to The Athletic, Chelsea are still prepared to hold out for more than Inter are offering.
The Blues paid £97.5 million in the summer of 2021. This is equivalent to €115 million.
The Blues still want to recoup a significant amount of what they have amortized Lukaku’s contract for.
The Athletic report that Chelsea’s asking price stands at €45 million.
With Inter still hoping to wrap up a deal for Lukaku in the coming days before their preseason begins, Chelsea’s stance could be a major roadblock.
On the one hand, the likely departure of Andre Onana to Manchester United for a big fee will give Inter financial resources to go after Lukaku.
On the other, the Nerazzurri still also have other objectives in the transfer market for this summer. Therefore, big question marks still remain given the distance between Inter and Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Juventus and Al-Hilal are also keen on Lukaku if Inter can’t sign him, The Athletic reports.