Harry Diamond
Inter Milan will submit a €70m loan offer for Romelu Lukaku, as the Italian side step up their pursuit of the Manchester United forward.
The Italian giants have been in discussions with Manchester United over a move for the Belgian international, who will be allowed to leave this summer having fallen behind Marcus Rashford in the pecking order at Old Trafford.
Lukaku has made no secret of his desire to move to Serie A, though United will only sanction his sale should they be able to recoup the £75m they spent in signing the 26-year-old from Everton in 2017.
Inter had been struggling to raise the finances to fund the move, but aware of potential interest from rivals Juventus, have now stepped up their pursuit of the forward with respected journalist Fabrizio Romano claiming they will make a €70m loan offer, which would include an obligation to buy.
The deal is reported to include an initial fee of £9m, with Lukaku joining Inter on a two-year loan. The Milan side will then pay a fee of £27m next summer, with a further payment of £27m in June 2021.
#Inter first bid to Man United for Romelu Lukaku will be: €10M for the loan + €30M June 2020, €30€M June 2021. Obligation to buy – so it's total €70M. 🔴 #MUFC #ManUnited #transfers
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 10, 2019
The structured deal equates to a fee of £63m, still some way short of United’s reported valuation. Inter and United have previously endured difficult negotiations, with the Italian side playing hardball over the sale of winger Ivan Perisic for the last two summers.
Former United boss Jose Mourinho was keen to sign the Croatian international in 2018, however, the club withdrew their interest following Inter’s excessive demands.
United are believed to be willing to allow Lukaku, who has scored 42 goals in 96 appearances for the club, to leave this summer.
However, the club are unlikely to budge from their valuation and it remains to be seen whether Inter’s proposal can persuade the club to sell.
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