Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Napoli for the transfer of Romelu Lukaku. The deal is worth £38 million and will see Lukaku reunited with former Chelsea manager Antonie Conte. The Belgian striker has been an outcast at Stamford Bridge since his public fallout with Thomas Tuchel in 2021. Chelsea have accepted a fixed fee of £25 million, along with add-ons worth up to £13 million. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported the details of the agreement.
Napoli initially hoped to sign Lukaku on loan with a view to a permanent deal. However, Chelsea made it clear that they were not interested in a loan and demanded a £38 million fee. After a summer of negotiations, it seems that a deal has finally been struck.
Chelsea have been working hard to offload players before the end of the transfer window, and Lukaku’s departure will help in achieving this. The 31-year-old has spent the last two seasons on loan in Italy, first with Inter Milan and then with Roma. Chelsea wanted to sell him this summer and it seems they will get their wish.
The deal is likely to include a sell-on clause, which means that Chelsea will receive a percentage of any future transfer fee if Lukaku is sold by Napoli. This could be a smart move for Chelsea, as Lukaku’s value could increase in the coming years.
Lukaku’s move to Napoli could also have implications for the future of striker Victor Osimhen. Chelsea have been keeping tabs on the Nigerian striker all summer, but face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and clubs in Saudi Arabia. Osimhen’s wages, which are close to £300,000 per week, could be an issue for Chelsea.
Chelsea’s American owners have been working to reduce the overall wage bill at Stamford Bridge. The club is looking to offload high earners like Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling. Chilwell earns a whopping £200,000 per week, while Sterling’s wages are even higher at £325,000 per week. Lukaku was also earning the same wages as Sterling after his £97.5 million return to Chelsea from Inter in 2021. Roma covered his wages during his loan spell.
Lukaku has not played for Chelsea since May 2022, after publicly stating his unhappiness under former manager Thomas Tuchel. It seems that both the club and the player are eager for a fresh start, and Napoli could be the perfect destination for Lukaku to reignite his career.
Overall, this transfer represents a significant move for both Chelsea and Napoli. Chelsea will be able to offload an outcast player and reduce their wage bill, while Napoli will gain a talented striker who can make a big impact in Serie A. It will be interesting to see how Lukaku performs under the guidance of his former manager, Antonie Conte, and if he can rediscover his best form in Italy.