Chelsea Football Club is reportedly open to negotiating a reduced transfer fee for Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, potentially paving the way for a permanent move to Roma. This development comes amidst Lukaku's successful stint with the Italian club and his apparent satisfaction in Rome.
Lukaku, 30, had previously spent a loan spell with Inter Milan during the 2022-23 season before joining Roma on a 12-month deal last August. Since then, he has flourished under new manager Daniele de Rossi, scoring an impressive 18 goals in just 35 appearances. His performance has caught the attention of Serie A giants who are keen on securing his services permanently.
According to Italian outlets, Roma currently have an option to buy Lukaku from Chelsea set at £37m as part of their loan agreement. However, it appears that Chelsea may be willing to accept less than this amount for his permanent transfer.
Blues have reportedly lowered the tag to offload Lukaku
Reports suggest that I Giallorossi could enter negotiations with Chelsea and potentially acquire Lukaku's signature for as low as £30m next summer. This comes after it was revealed that Lukaku was never part of Mauricio Pochettino's plans at Stamford Bridge and that The Blues are eager to offload him permanently from their roster.
However, there are hurdles still present in this potential deal - primarily being the player’s staggering weekly wage of £300k which has posed significant challenges in finding a buyer over recent years.
While initially agreeing to reduce his salary by 37.5% upon joining Roma, further reductions would likely be necessary for any deal between both clubs to materialize fully. Yet personal aspects such as family encouragement and satisfaction living in Rome could influence these discussions significantly.
Despite these positive factors, financial limitations may still prove to be a hurdle for Roma. The player's signing fee and wages could cost them around £51m, a sum that is closely tied to their ability to qualify for the Champions League.
Many clubs in line to clinch Lukaku in summer
Meanwhile, several Saudi clubs have also shown interest in Lukaku and would have no trouble meeting Chelsea's asking price or the striker's salary demands. This adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing negotiations.
As it stands, Roma currently sits fifth in Serie A table, trailing fourth-placed Bologna by three points. In contrast, Chelsea are 11th in the Premier League standings - 14 points behind the top five teams.
While Chelsea’s willingness to lower Lukaku’s transfer fee opens up new possibilities for his future career path, several factors including personal preferences and financial constraints will play crucial roles in determining where he ends up next season.
