Romelu Lukaku has his sights set on just one club after Chelsea have entered negotiations with the Italian side.
Lukaku is poised to depart Chelsea this summer after an unsuccessful second stint at the club. He rejoined Chelsea in 2021, having previously played for them from 2011 to 2014. Lukaku struggled to make an impact in the Premier League upon his return and spent the last two seasons on loan at Inter Milan and Roma.
Reports indicate that the Belgian forward is likely to move to another Serie A team, with negotiations reportedly underway between Chelsea and Napoli. According to TNT Sports, the 31-year-old is eager to join Napoli and reunite with manager Antonio Conte.
Conte, who recently took charge at Napoli in June, returned to management after leaving Tottenham Hotspur in March 2023. During his tenure at Inter Milan from 2019 to 2021, he coached Lukaku, with the striker making 72 league appearances and scoring 47 goals.
Their strong rapport during this period suggests a reunion is on the cards. Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur highlighted their close bond when speaking to the BBC in 2021.
“Terreur stated that Romelu Lukaku admired Antonio Conte deeply. Both are passionate about football and thrive on being underestimated, which proved beneficial. Conte pushed Lukaku to his limits, even publicly criticizing him initially, a tactic that spurred Lukaku to improve. However, finalizing a deal may pose challenges, as Chelsea seeks €35 million plus bonuses for Lukaku, while Napoli aims to negotiate a lower price of €25 million.”
During the 2022/2023 season, Romelu Lukaku returned to Inter Milan on loan from Chelsea, initially poised to extend his stay after a successful campaign. He featured in 37 matches for Inter, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists. However, despite talks with Juventus for a potential transfer, the deal fell through, causing tension between the clubs due to Lukaku’s perceived disloyalty.
Subsequently, Lukaku spent the 2023-2024 season on loan at Roma. He then renegotiated his contract with Chelsea, accepting reduced wages for the remainder of his deal and agreeing to a release clause set at £37 million.
