In the latest twist of the summer transfer window, Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku finds himself at the center of a whirlwind of speculation. The Belgian striker's future at Stamford Bridge has been cast into doubt, with reports suggesting that he and the club are in agreement over his absence from their pre-season tour to the United States.
Lukaku, who returned to Chelsea in August 2021 for a then club record £97.5m, has reportedly been the subject of interest from Juventus and Inter Milan. The 30-year-old Belgium international did not report to Cobham when training resumed in July and is not in Chelsea's squad for the pre-season tour.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino stated, "I think both the club and player are in a position that they wanted. I think the player and the club are working really hard to find the best solution for everyone." This statement has fueled speculation that Lukaku's time at Chelsea may be coming to an end.
Meanwhile, Chelsea's pursuit of Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic has taken a positive turn. Juventus' Director of Football, Cristiano Giuntoli, has admitted that they may be forced to sell their No.9 this summer. Giuntoli was quoted saying, "Vlahovic? It's not a secret that we have to clarify our balance/accounts, so we have to consider huge proposals. It's important to clarify that we trust Dusan and he's part of our project."
This statement has opened the door for Chelsea to make a move for the Serbian striker, who scored 14 goals in 42 appearances last season. Reports suggest that Vlahovic is valued at £60m, and Chelsea have been in frequent discussions about a deal throughout the summer.
In a surprising turn of events, Inter Milan have reportedly dropped their interest in Lukaku after learning about his willingness to join rivals Juventus. This development has led to speculation that a deal involving Vlahovic could be negotiated between Chelsea and Juventus.
As the summer transfer window continues, the future of Lukaku and Chelsea's pursuit of Vlahovic remain key talking points. With the new season fast approaching, the Blues will be keen to resolve these issues and finalize their squad for the upcoming campaign.
