Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku willing to take wage cut to make Inter Milan return - Reports
Chelsea's out-of-form striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to make a return to Serie A side Inter Milan this summer.
Since returning to Chelsea from Inter last summer for club-record £97.7 million, the Belgian striker has been hugely disappointing.
His transfer was touted by many as one of the best deals of the summer. However, he has been out of form and problems off the field have made matters worse. Back in December last year, Lukaku did an interview with Sky Italia. In that, he criticized Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel's system and expressed his desire to return to Inter.
It appears he is willing to fast-track that promise by taking a pay-cut, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Calcio News 24).
Gazzetta
Lukaku wants to return to Inter & he’s let them know he’s willing to reduce his salary to come back
The situation at Chelsea has opened this as a possibility. First the club needs to be sold & then they need to find an agreement on a loan deal as Inter cant buy him
📰 Gazzetta https://t.co/oQaeu247MT
However, there are problems concerning a potential move for Lukaku.
Inter will be unable to buy the former Manchester United striker in their current financial situation. A loan deal with a view to a permanent move would be the proposed operation.
Alongside this, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was hit with sanctions by the UK government this week that have suspended the club's transfer activity.
Lukaku, who is on weekly wages of £325,000 will need to cut that huge sum if he is to get his desired return to the San Siro.
Would Lukaku return to his usual best with a return to Inter Milan from Chelsea?
Should he return to the San Siro, he would be returning to the side and league he had huge success in. In his debut season at the Nerazzurri in 2019-20, he scored 23 goals in 36 Serie A appearances.
He followed that up with a top goalscorer performance the following season. He scored 24 goals in 36 league games as they won the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years.
His work with then Inter boss Antonio Conte drew huge acclaim. His power, speed and goalscoring prowess was a sight to behold in the Serie A league.
Fabio Capello: "Lukaku fit perfectly into Conte’s counter-attacking style at Inter, because there were lots of spaces. However, Chelsea play this very different type of football with lots of short passes and Lukaku doesn’t have the same spaces to move in."
Interestingly, the reports also state that Tottenham Hotspur could hold an interest in the striker. Spurs striker Harry Kane had desired a move prior to Manchester City last summer but club chairman Daniel Levy turned down any bids.
Kane has settled down and is now returning to his usual goalscoring best under Conte. However, should he become disswayed once more, the north London outfit could look to the Belgian as a replacement.