Romelu Lukaku Set to Miss Chelsea’s Pre-Season Amidst Transfer Talks with Inter
Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku is set to miss the start of Chelsea’s pre-season training as he continues to push for a move to Inter Milan. Talks between Chelsea and Inter have been ongoing, with the Serie A club making an initial offer of £23 million, which was rejected by Chelsea. Inter is expected to return with a new offer closer to Chelsea’s asking price of £40 million, but an agreement is unlikely to be reached before Lukaku is due to report for pre-season training this week.
According to The Telegraph, Lukaku had initially been instructed to return for training on Wednesday, but he has no plans to train at Cobham this week. In an attempt to facilitate a deal with Inter, Chelsea has now moved Lukaku’s return date to next Monday. The hope is that an agreement can be reached by then.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino addressed the situation in his first press conference last week, stating that Lukaku was expected to report back for training unless he was sold to Inter. Pochettino emphasized that all parties involved are aware of Chelsea’s stance on the matter. He stated, “In that case, he needs to come back on the 12th or 13th [July] to be part of the squad and start pre-season. When the player arrives, the first thing they are doing is coming to my office to see me and say hello. That is what I expect if he is still a Chelsea player.”
Lukaku, who scored 14 goals during his loan spell with Inter last season, has also turned down a lucrative offer from Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. Juventus has expressed interest in the striker as well, but Lukaku’s preference is to rejoin Inter on a permanent deal.
The potential transfer of Lukaku has generated significant interest in the football world. Enzo Fernandez, son of former Real Madrid player Zinedine Zidane, revealed that he is trying to convince Roma star Paulo Dybala to join Chelsea. Dybala’s addition to the Chelsea squad would further strengthen their attacking options.
In other news, Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk has hit back at social media criticism. Mudryk, who joined Chelsea last season, has faced scrutiny from fans on various platforms. However, the player remains focused on his development and is determined to prove his worth at the club.
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In conclusion, Romelu Lukaku’s potential move to Inter Milan continues to dominate the headlines as he is set to miss the start of Chelsea’s pre-season training. Talks between the two clubs are ongoing, with Chelsea rejecting an initial offer from Inter. Lukaku’s preference is to rejoin Inter on a permanent deal, despite interest from other clubs. Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino expects Lukaku to report back for training unless a transfer is finalized. The situation surrounding Lukaku’s future remains uncertain, but all parties involved are working towards a resolution.