Inter Milan Set Deadline For Romelu Lukaku Signing As Chelsea Hold Cards

Inter Milan are aiming to complete the signing of Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea by the end of June, according to reports in Italy.

Lukaku endured a miserable spell at Stamford Bridge, being in and out of the side as he netted 15 goals in the season.

It looks like the Belgian will be making a return to Inter Milan in the summer, and as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italians are looking to get the deal done by the end of June.

This comes following reports that both Chelsea and Inter are ‘motivated’ in securing the deal, looking to end his unsuccessful spell at Stamford Bridge after just one year following his club-record £97.5 million return to the English capital.

The Blues’ new owners will grant Tuchel control over the transfer window this summer, allowing him to make decisions regarding outgoings and Lukaku could be the first casualty.

The Belgium striker sat down with the Italian press in December to criticise Tuchel’s system, stating that it did not get the best out of the club-record signing.

Romelu Lukaku during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. (Alamy)

While Tuchel re-integrated Lukaku into the team, the forward failed to impress and ended the season with half of the goals that he scored the previous season.

Gazzetta dello Sport continue to reveal that ‘Inter will be aiming to get a signing over Lukaku over the line before the end of June’ because this will allow the Italians to ‘apply the Growth Decree tax benefits to his wages’.

The forward is reportedly ready to take a pay-cut in order to return to Milan, with his current salary at Chelsea believed to be in the region of £325,000-a-week.

Inter will be hoping that Lukaku can re-find his form, when he netted 30 goals on their way to lifting the Serie A title with Antonio Conte.

Chelsea boss Tuchel has previously admitted that the Blues are looking to talk to Lukaku regarding his future this summer as he was set for a meeting with the new owners.

“I think if he plans to talk with the owner it is not his plan to talk with me!” Tuchel said last month.

"It’s fair enough. Let’s see if he gets a meeting! It is his right. We will talk to anybody. We will evaluate any situation of any player including Romelu. We will see what is going to happen and what the plans are."

The Blues will be in the market for a new forward if Lukaku is to leave, with a ‘specialist replacement’ set to be signed, with Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus the most recent name to be linked.