Romelu Lukaku is still a Chelsea player but training with the under-21 side of the club because Chelsea doesn’t seem to have any intention of keeping the 30-year-old Belgian striker. The Fulham-based club reportedly wants him gone this summer on a loan that will see his wages borne by a new club.
There have been loan interests from top European clubs like Barcelona, PSG, and AS Roma. However, there has been a more concrete approach from Roma, but will their recent loan signing of Sardar Azmoun impair the deal?
Jose Mourinho talks about Romelu Lukaku’s transfer
Romelu Lukaku moved from Chelsea to Inter Milan hoping to return to his glory days, but he could register only 14 goals and provided six assists in 35 games for Inter Milan. This tally was relatively good compared to his spell at Chelsea. He had a rough season, scoring 15 goals in 44 games for the club.
After his loan spell at Inter Milan, the 30-year-old Belgian striker returned to Chelsea, but he has not spoken to Mauricio Pochettino about actually playing for the club. The Inter Milan boss, CEO Beppe Marotta, confirmed Lukaku’s Chelsea return when he said, “He will return to Chelsea, and we don’t know what will happen on a technical level at that club.”
Speaking Thursday about Romelu Lukaku’s desire to leave Chelsea, Pochettino said, “If the player and clubs wish to find a solution, it’s not me, it’s them. In that case, the player and the club will meet and inform me that things changed. I’m not going to move until the club or the player wants to talk with me. I am here, I accept the situation that was here when I arrived. The club and the player both try to find a solution. The future can change things.”
Lukaku now looks focused on joining Roma to reunite with the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, who has expressed an interest in him.
According to ESPN, Chelsea is currently open to approving a loan agreement; however, they intend to request a substantial fee. They will also require the potential new club to assume most of his wage burden, approximately £300,000 per week.
When asked about the possibility of acquiring the Chelsea striker, Mourinho, who has already secured the signing of Sadar Azmoun this summer, addressed reporters by stating: “When the director proposed Azmoun to me, he told me that another one is coming. If the other is a quality striker… [Andrea] Belotti, Azmoun, and another, we have good options in attack. I’m quietly waiting. Now I’m thinking about tomorrow, We’ve worked on this, and we hope.”
José Mourinho: “Lukaku deal? The club told me that we will sign one more striker after Serdar Azmoun and that makes me happy”. 🚨🟡🔴 #ASRoma
“It’s difficult for me to comment now on Azmoun as he hasn’t signed yet, imagine on Lukaku who’s Chelsea player…”. pic.twitter.com/AtR2G4FAwq
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 25, 2023
AS Roma sign Sardar Azmoun on loan
AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho had initially expressed keen interest in Sardar Azmoun in 2021 when he hoped to sign the Iranian striker from Bayern Leverkusen. However, Roma was unable to sign the player then, instead going after Eldor Shomurodov.
AS Roma made another attempt to land Sardar Azmoun this summer, which was successful. Now, Mourinho finally gets his wish. Azmoun’s arrival at Roma comes through a cost-effective loan arrangement coupled with an option clause, a common occurrence in these scenarios. This option is estimated to fall between €10 to €12 million.
In contrast to the speculated Zapata deal, where Atalanta seemed poised to give the green light this morning until Pinto’s move for Azmoun intervened, bringing in Sardar via a budget-friendly loan with an option appears to retain the possibility for AS Roma to pursue the signing of Marcos Leonardo come January.
There are speculations that Romelu Lukaku may be going to AS Roma in a loan deal from Chelsea. When Tammy Abraham returns, Roma should be stocked up in attack for their subsequent campaigns.
