AC Milan devising payment strategy to take 30-year-old flop away from Chelsea
Chelsea are gearing up to sell their Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku this summer. The striker was re-signed from Inter Milan in 2021 for a record fee of £97.5m, and now AC Milan are interested in bringing him back to Serie A.
Lukaku has been one of Chelsea’s most high-profile players in the last decade. His first arrival at the West London club was in 2011, following his stint with Belgian club Anderlecht. After just one season with Chelsea, he joined West Bromwich Albion on a loan deal. His career then saw him playing for various clubs, including Manchester United, Everton, and Inter Milan. The Belgian netted a significant number of goals for these clubs, gradually establishing himself as one of Europe’s top strikers.
Chelsea’s former manager Thomas Tuchel signed Lukaku after winning the Champions League, record fee of £97.5m from Inter Milan on a five-year deal. However, the signing did not live up to expectations for the West London club. Lukaku managed to score only 15 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions in his first season back at Chelsea. This season marked the beginning of a decline in his form. Chelsea finished third in the league, and Lukaku’s underperformance was a disappointment for both the club and the fans.
Chelsea is the only Premier League club in his career where Lukaku has failed to shine. He was sent back to Inter Milan on a loan deal the following season, where he also struggled, notably failing to secure the Champions League against Manchester City. Lukaku was then loaned to AS Roma last season, where he contributed 21 goals and four assists, marking his best recent performance. He also featured for the Belgian national squad, although their journey ended with a loss to France in the Round of 16.
Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, has new plans to bolster the squad. The Italian manager may not be interested in retaining Lukaku, given his poor record in the Premier League. The Belgian striker still has two years left on his Chelsea contract, and at 31, he is entering the final years of his prime.
AC Milan are interested in the striker, who has an impressive record in Serie A. However, the Italian giants are currently struggling to find a financially viable strategy to bring Lukaku to San Siro, according to Italian publication Gianluca Di Marzio. Offloading Lukaku could benefit Chelsea in several ways. It would allow them to balance their books and reinvest in new summer signings. Additionally, the sale could facilitate the acquisition of a new striker to bolster their attacking line.
Chelsea would likely accept any offer that meets their valuation of the striker. However, Lukaku may prefer a move to AC Milan. Let’s wait and see how this pans out.
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