MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 18:59:53| >> :60:2236:2236:

Romelu Lukaku 'willing to take £3m pay cut to seal Chelsea exit'

Lukaku 'willing to take £3m pay cut to seal Chelsea exit'
© Reuters
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly willing to sacrifice £3m in annual wages to return to Inter Milan this summer.

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly happy to give up £3m in wages in order to seal an exit from Stamford Bridge this summer.

After leaving Stamford Bridge without a single goal to his name in 2014, the 29-year-old returned with high expectations from Inter Milan for £97.5m last summer.

However, Lukaku's Chelsea return has proven to be a dismal affair for both club and player after Lukaku openly admitted that he was pining for a return to San Siro in an interview with Italian media.

Lukaku admitted that he was also struggling with Thomas Tuchel's system before issuing an apology to the fans, but he has since struggled to force his way into the German's first XI.

The former Everton and Manchester United man ended the 2021-22 season with 15 goals and two assists from 44 games in all competitions, including eight strikes in the Premier League.

Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their third goal on January 8, 2022© Reuters

Lukaku managed three goals in three starts against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United and Leicester City last month but was demoted back down to the bench for the final-day win over Watford.

There have been suggestions that Lukaku is keen to stay and try to reignite his Chelsea career, but the Daily Mail claims that he is still keen to head back to Inter.

The 2020-21 Serie A champions' long-running financial problems are thought to have made a permanent return impossible, with a loan deal previously mooted for the Belgium international.

However, the report adds that Lukaku is willing to take a sizeable hit on his salary to leave Chelsea, and his contract at Inter could see him earn £125k per week.

Simone Inzaghi's side are understood to be interested in bringing Lukaku back to the club, but it remains to be seen if the cash-strapped Nerazzurri can string together a financial package that will satisfy the Blues.

Romelu Lukaku warms up for Chelsea on February 22, 2022© Reuters

Chelsea are now free to buy, sell and negotiate new contracts with players after Todd Boehly's takeover was confirmed earlier this week, but Lukaku's deal is not due to expire until 2026.

The Belgian previously struck 64 goals in 95 games for Inter Milan before returning to West London and has reportedly changed agents after hitting out at comments from former representative Federico Pastorello.

A recent report claimed that Chelsea would allow Lukaku to return to Inter should the Italian side pay a loan fee of €20m (£17m), while an obligation to buy of €70m (£59.5m) would also be included in the contract.

While Lukaku's exit remains up in the air, Chelsea confirmed on Thursday that Antonio Rudiger had completed a free transfer to Real Madrid after rejecting the club's offer of a new contract.

ID:487240:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5546:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Romelu Lukaku future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Romelu Lukaku

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring for Chelsea in May 2022
Read Next:
Lukaku 'set for talks with new owners over Chelsea future'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Bournemouth157352320324
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!