The future of Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku remains uncertain as negotiations with Inter Milan intensify. The 30-year-old Belgian international has been granted permission by Chelsea to miss the club's first pre-season training session, a move that underscores the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future.
Lukaku's return to Chelsea's training ground, initially scheduled for this week, has been postponed to next Monday. This decision was made to avoid potential conflicts and provide all parties involved with more time to clarify Lukaku's future. The player's preference is to continue at Inter Milan, where he spent a successful loan stint last season.
Inter Milan is reportedly preparing a new offer for Lukaku, which is expected to be over £25 million plus bonuses, totaling around £35 million. However, this still falls short of Chelsea's £40 million valuation. Chelsea's new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, had previously stated that he expected Lukaku to return to Chelsea's Cobham base this week. However, the shifting dynamics of the negotiations have moved the goalposts.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, Lukaku's future remains up in the air. If a deal with Inter Milan cannot be agreed upon or at least significantly progressed by next Monday, it remains to be seen whether Lukaku would consider returning to Chelsea.
Chelsea has already rejected one bid from Inter Milan, but Lukaku remains determined to return to the Italian club. The player has shown no interest in accepting an offer from Saudi Arabia or joining Juventus, who have also been linked with him.
As the summer transfer window progresses, the outcome of these negotiations will be eagerly awaited by fans and pundits alike. Whether Lukaku will reunite with Inter Milan or remain at Chelsea is yet to be determined, but one thing is certain - his next move will undoubtedly have significant implications for both clubs.
