08 July 2023 , 22:53
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Romelu Lukaku is the subject of a potential swap deal between Chelsea and Juventus - but the Belgian is determined to secure a move to Inter Milan.
Lukaku has struggled for form since returning to the Blues in the summer of 2021 for a club-record fee. As a result Chelsea allowed the forward to head back to the San Siro last term, although he failed to recapture the form he had shown previously.
He now finds himself at a crossroads with the west Londoners looking to get a host of big names off their books. Lukaku cost close to £100m and they are reluctant to let him leave on the cheap, but a swap deal with Juventus with Dusan Vlahovic moving the other way has been touted, as per Gazzetta dello Sport.
Bianconeri boss Max Allegri is keen to have Lukaku in Turin and would be willing to sanction the Serbian's departure. Chelsea themselves are seeking more firepower, despite their huge sums spent, and may welcome Vlahovic, but the Belgian isn't on board with a move to Juventus.
In the past he has said: “Juventus or AC Milan? Never. I told Manchester United that I would go to Inter even if Juventus had made a better offer. Also in the future, in Italy, I will either play for Inter or go back to Anderlecht.”
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It leaves Chelsea with a player on their books who is determined to return to Milan next season, likely on a permanent deal. Inter however do not have the funds to buy Lukaku, meaning the Blues will have to accept a substantial loss if they do let him leave with the two parties currently €15m apart in their valuations.
Mauricio Pochettino is still getting to grips with his squad having recently taken charge. Despite the millions spent on the squad Chelsea were incredibly low scorers last term with no player hitting double figures. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, like Lukaku, also faces an uncertain future.
Christopher Nkunku has recently joined from RB Leipzig in a £52m deal after a season in which he scored 23 times. Vlahovic has also shown himself more than capable in the attacking third, previously becoming the only player to notch on 33 occasions in Serie A in a calendar year.
Pochettino has said on his side's recruitment: “At the moment, we are thinking (in the transfer market) in a different way. We are not thinking that. We’re working hard to try to provide the squad with good quality. We are working on that and still we have time to work. For sure we are going to add players that can score and we are going to find the best way to play.”