Inter Milan has reportedly informed Chelsea that they no longer wish to pursue the signing of striker Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku, who returned to Chelsea for his second stint in 2021 for a staggering £97.5 million, had a challenging season with the Blues and was subsequently loaned back to Inter Milan last season.
During his loan spell with Inter, Lukaku scored 14 goals in 37 appearances and played a crucial role in helping the team reach the Champions League final. Inter was keen on retaining the 30-year-old forward but has been unwilling to meet Chelsea's asking price, despite it being significantly lower than what they paid for him two years ago.
Inter Milan made a second bid of £27.5 million this week, but Chelsea demanded £34 million. However, it has now been alleged that Inter Milan has withdrawn from a potential deal. The club is said to be furious after discovering that Lukaku's advisers had held secret talks with Juventus. While such discussions are legal and common during negotiations, Inter Milan feels disappointed as they believed Lukaku's only interest was in returning to the Nerazzurri, a message they claim came directly from the player.
As a result, Juventus has emerged as the frontrunner for Lukaku's signature, and the player himself is eager to leave Chelsea this summer. However, Juventus needs to sell Dusan Vlahovic to finance the move for Lukaku, which means the Belgian striker may be compelled to return to Chelsea for pre-season.
Lukaku had already turned down a move to Saudi Arabia, and Chelsea had granted him an extended summer break to finalize his future away from Stamford Bridge.
