Chelsea have apparently struck a deal with Aston Villa for Romelu Lukaku, who is also on Napoli’s radar.
Lukaku’s future has been a significant issue for Chelsea since his £97.5 million ($124.9m) return to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2021, seven years after he initially left the club.
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The Belgian striker has not made a notable impact, causing concern for the third consecutive summer.
Chelsea are now seeking to transfer him permanently after two consecutive loans to Inter Milan and Roma.
Italian newspaper Il Mattino (via CalcioNapoli24) has reported that Aston Villa and Chelsea have agreed on terms for Lukaku’s transfer, as the Blues are eager to offload him due to his £325,000-per-week salary.
However, the report indicates that Lukaku is not keen on moving to Birmingham, as he is waiting for an offer from Napoli.
Napoli and Chelsea have been negotiating a transfer for Lukaku, as new Gli Azzurri manager Antonio Conte is in need of a dependable striker, with Victor Osimhen potentially moving in the opposite direction.
Nonetheless, Chelsea are ‘losing patience’ with the Serie A club due to delays in the deal.
Chelsea initially hoped to resolve Lukaku’s future before their pre-season tour in the United States.
Now, they aim to finalize the matter before the Premier League season begins, with Manchester City set to visit Stamford Bridge on August 18.