According to sources, Chelsea has issued a warning to Inter that they must come closer to their asking price of £40 million (Sh7.2 billion) for striker Romelu Lukaku.
The two clubs have been engaged in negotiations for Lukaku’s transfer for several months, with Chelsea rejecting multiple offers from Inter.
Chelsea is determined to recoup a significant portion of their initial investment of £97.5 million (17.6 billion) in Lukaku. They have dismissed Inter’s attempts to secure the player on loan and are only considering a permanent departure.
Inter recently made an offer of around £30 million (Sh5.4 billion), which Chelsea turned down. The London club is pressing Inter to increase their bid by another £10 million (Sh1.8 billion).
However, Inter is constrained by a limited transfer budget and hopes to avoid a substantial expenditure on Lukaku.
The potential sale of Andre Onana to Manchester United could provide Inter with more flexibility in the negotiations. Talks between the two clubs are ongoing, but they are further complicated by the fact that Chelsea still owes money to Inter from Lukaku’s initial purchase in 2021.
Despite interest from Juventus and Saudi Arabia, Lukaku’s focus is on returning to Inter, and he is patiently waiting for the clubs to reach an agreement.
