An unnamed member of the Chelsea board wanted to keep Romelu Lukaku at the club this summer, according to reports.
This comes as the Belgian is set for a loan move to Inter Milan, ending a disappointing spell at Stamford Bridge.
An initial €5 million loan fee for the club-record signing had been rejected by Chelsea earlier this month, with Thomas Tuchel’s side demanding at least €10 million.
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Inter Milan have now proposed a €7 million loan fee, including add-ons, to see Lukaku return to Italy, coming close to the price that Todd Boehly is demanding this summer.
The American has promised Tuchel full control over incomings and outgoings, with the head coach giving the green light on the departure.
However, not everyone was in favour of the departure, according to reports.
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Speaking on YouTube, Fabrizio Romano revealed that there was an employee at Chelsea who wished to keep the Belgian.
The Italian journalist revealed that ‘someone internally at Chelsea, including Marina Granovskaia, was looking at the possibility of keeping Romelu Lukaku for a further season.
However, Boehly wanted a different solution as the co-owner sat down with Inter Milan and Lukaku’s lawyer regarding a move.
The Blues named their new-look structure off-the-pitch, with several departures as the Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium ring in the changes.
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Granovskaia has departed her role as director, with Chairman Bruce Buck also leaving his role at the end of the month.
In a statement released by Chelsea, the club confirmed that Boehly has now been named as Chairman, with the board including Behdad Eghbai, Jose Feliciano, Mark Walter, Hansjorg Wyss, Jonathan Goldstein, Barbara Charone, Daniel Finkelstein and James Pade.
The Blues continued to reveal Granovskaia’s departure, stating: “The announcement includes the departure of Marina Granovskaia, director of Chelsea FC.
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"Boehly will operate as interim sporting director until the Club names a full-time replacement, continuing the Club’s work towards its targets during the current transfer window.
“Chelsea FC and Ms. Granovskaia have agreed that she will remain available to Boehly and the Club for the duration of the current transfer window, to the extent required to support the transition.”
With Boehly making several changes to the structure at the club, Tuchel will be looking to find a working relationship with the new board as he looks to build his squad.
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The Blues will be looking to make additions to their squad ahead of the new season as they look to challenge at the top of the Premier League once more.
It remains to be seen as to who will be targeted, with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen departing this summer.
Jules Kounde and Matthijs de Ligts have been heavily linked.
Raheem Sterling has also been discussed as an attacking option for Tuchel ahead of the new season.
Topics: Chelsea, Marina Granovskaia, Todd Boehly, Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan, Transfers, Football
Nick Emms