Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku will have to take a hefty pay cut in order to secure a permanent transfer away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
The Belgium international rejoined the Blues in 2021 for a club-record transfer worth £97.5 million (€115m), but has spent the past two seasons out on loan.
Despite helping Inter Milan win the Coppa Italia and reach the Uefa Champions League final in 2022, he was loaned out again last season, scoring 21 goals in all competitions for AS Roma.
Lukaku‘s future lies away from west London, with Chelsea working to sell the forward in the summer transfer window rather than loan him out again, according to Sky Sports.
The 31-year-old is said to be keen on reuniting with Antonio Conte, who is now in charge of Napoli. The pair worked together at Inter between 2019 and 2021.
The report adds that Lukaku has agreed on personal terms. Fabrizio Romano claims the move would see his salary reduced almost in half from €11m per year to €6m.
However, the deal is contingent on Napoli first selling Victor Osimhen, who has been linked with PSG and the Saudi Pro League.
Napoli’s ‘preference’ is to sell the Nigerian striker to a Saudi club, but Osimhen apparently wants to remain in Europe and play Champions League football, which Paris can offer.
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