The Gazetta dello Sport in Italy is basically building its summer out of Romelu Lukaku.
It’s been known for a long time that he wants to leave Chelsea, and that he wants to return to Inter Milan. That’s been the basis of months of negotiations, which continue even today.
The Gazzetta’s latest story claims that Lukaku’s lawyer Sebastian Ledure (the striker operates without an agent) has had phone calls with Chelsea today telling them that their €40m asking price – already reduced from the €45m they were asking in June – is too much and too inflexible for Inter.
That’s fair enough – under normal circumstances the Blues could walk away and find a new buyer. But Lukaku only wants an Inter move, and this story adds that he will stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the club against Chelsea’s demands.
The Blues are doing their best – they’ve extended Lukaku’s holiday for another week to ensure he doesn’t have to turn up at preseason for another year. But their patience may have limits.