Italian top side Inter Milan has agreed on a deal to sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku on a season-long loan. The Blues re-signed the 29-year-old from Inter for £97.5m in August 2021, but he will return to the Serie A side having struggled throughout last season. The loan fee for Lukaku is about 8m euros (£6.9m).
The Belgium international scored 15 goals in all competitions for Chelsea last season, with eight in 26 Premier League appearances. It is understood that the former Manchester United and Everton striker was willing to take a pay cut to rejoin Inter.
The Italian club’s financial situation meant it was impossible for them to match Lukaku’s wages or buy the frontman outright. However, president Steven Zhang got involved personally in the negotiations on Monday, which was viewed as significant. Romelu Lukaku, who left Chelsea to join Everton for £28m in 2014, returned to the Stamford Bridge side last summer on a five-year deal for a club-record fee.
Inter finished second in Serie A last season, two points behind city rivals AC Milan. They are also in talks with Juventus forward Paulo Dybala. The Argentina international, 28, is set to be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the month.