In a surprising turn of events, Inter Milan has withdrawn from the race to sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, according to renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The Italian club is now reportedly considering Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun as a potential replacement.
Chelsea has been actively seeking to offload Lukaku throughout the summer, with the Belgian player deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge. Lukaku, who returned to Chelsea in 2021 from Inter Milan in a deal worth £97.5m, scored only eight Premier League goals before being loaned back to Inter Milan last season.
Inter Milan had been on the brink of reaching a €35m plus add-ons agreement with Chelsea for Lukaku. However, the deal fell through when Inter discovered that Lukaku's representatives were also in talks with Juventus, a rival Italian club. This revelation left Inter Milan feeling betrayed, leading to their decision to abandon the negotiations.
Romano elaborated on the situation in his Caught Offside column, stating, "Lukaku shocked Inter and left them furious when they found out that the people close to him were also negotiating with Juventus. Inter did their best for Lukaku in a difficult moment in his career... Then Inter found out about the Juventus talks and decided to leave the negotiations."
With the deal for Lukaku now off the table, Inter Milan is exploring other options. One of these is Arsenal's Folarin Balogun, who spent last term on loan at Reims. Romano noted that while nothing is concrete yet, Inter Milan is interested in understanding Arsenal's price tag for Balogun. Preliminary discussions suggest a fee around €40m.
Meanwhile, Lukaku is expected to return to Chelsea for training, but he will not be joining their pre-season tour. Chelsea's intention remains clear - they want Lukaku out. The club is reportedly unhappy with the player and is eager for him to leave.
The two remaining options for Lukaku appear to be Saudi Arabian clubs and Juventus. Lukaku has so far declined offers from Saudi Arabia, while Juventus has submitted a verbal proposal to Chelsea for €35m plus €2.5m add-ons. However, Juventus' ability to sign Lukaku hinges on their ability to sell Dusan Vlahovic, creating a complex 'domino' situation.
Romano concluded his report by stating, "This makes it a complicated 'domino' situation... The same with Lautaro Martinez - there are no talks, he will not be going to Chelsea. PSG, however, ARE considering a move for Vlahovic and the player is keen on the move."
This unexpected turn of events in the transfer market underscores the unpredictable nature of football, with clubs, players, and fans alike left to navigate the ever-changing landscape.
Here are some other factors that could affect Lukaku's future:
- The outcome of Chelsea's takeover saga.
- The arrival of a new manager at Chelsea.
- The form of Lukaku's teammates at Chelsea.
- The financial offers from Juventus and Arsenal.
