Talks between Inter Milan and Chelsea will continue as the Italian team attempt to re-sign Romelu Lukaku, with an improved offer anticipated after their initial approach was turned down.
A loan deal that would enable Lukaku to re-join Inter is being negotiated, a year on from the £97.5 million switch which took the Belgium striker to Stamford Bridge for the second time in his career.
Inter are ready to cover the whole salary they agreed with Lukaku and having seen a proposed fee of about €5 million rejected by Chelsea, they are expected to reach figure that would be acceptable.
At present, the financial part is believed not to be the most significant obstacle to the transfer happening; the bigger issue is said to be Chelsea’s wish to bring players in the opposite direction.
But there is optimism that a consensus can be found — largely owing to a general acceptance among sources working on the situation that the move is in the best interests of all concerned.
It is understood the club’s new co-owner Todd Boehly is still to be fully convinced that letting last season’s top scorer, and someone contracted until 2026, leave temporarily is the right decision.
Yet those close to the matter think the relationship between Lukaku and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is badly strained by events of the past 12 months and will be difficult to repair.
The 29-year-old is thought to have established a healthy rapport with Boehly and retains affection for a side who first recruited him from Anderlecht at the age of 18 in 2011.
Sources insist the complications are mainly between Lukaku and Tuchel and that while the German is in charge, it is hard to see a way back.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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