Chelsea Reject Loan Moves for Lukaku, Aiming for Permanent Sale
Chelsea Football Club has made it clear that they will not entertain any loan offers for striker Romelu Lukaku this summer. The club’s intention is to sell the Belgian forward in a permanent deal as they look to recoup some of the £97.5 million they paid Inter Milan for him in 2021.
The asking price for Lukaku is believed to be around £37 million, a figure that reflects Chelsea’s desire to offload the 31-year-old’s hefty £325,000-a-week wages from their books. Despite interest from Roma, who are keen to re-sign Lukaku after his successful loan spell with them last season, the Italian club is unable to meet Chelsea’s valuation. AC Milan and Napoli, both of which have shown interest in the player, will also have to assess their financial limitations before making further moves.
Napoli, in particular, were rumored to be considering a swap deal involving their striker Victor Osimhen. However, Chelsea has made it clear that they are not interested in signing the Nigerian, whose market value exceeds £100 million. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will soften their stance as the transfer window progresses.
It is worth noting that Lukaku had previously turned down a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal last summer when Chelsea had accepted a bid for his services. This suggests that Lukaku may have other preferences or aspirations for his future.
Overall, Chelsea’s decision to reject loan offers for Lukaku and aim for a permanent sale indicates their determination to recoup some of the significant investment they made in acquiring him from Inter Milan. With several interested clubs in Italy, it remains to be seen how negotiations will progress and whether any compromises can be reached.