- Chelsea signed striker Romelu Lukaku for £98 million from Inter Milan in 2021
- He has proven to be a disastrous asset and they are about to take a huge hit
- A subdued Stamford Bridge: If I eat in a restaurant and the food is bad, I blame the manager… not the previous manager – Listen to It all starts
Chelsea have reportedly set their asking price for Romelu Lukaku as they prepare to offload the striker permanently this summer.
The Blues spent a record £98million on the then club to sign Lukaku from Inter Milan in 2021, but he endured a miserable campaign and criticized manager Thomas Tuchel in an impressive interview.
He returned to Inter on loan last season and is now at Roma on a temporary basis for the current season, but Chelsea want to sell him in the next transfer window.
They are prepared to deal a huge blow to the 30-year-old to get him off their books, with an Italian outlet Calciomercato report that they will claim just €43 million (£37 million) – a loss of more than £60 million.
Lukaku turned down a move to Saudi Arabia last summer to return to Italy and has impressed for AS Roma this season.
Romelu Lukaku has proven to be a disastrous signing for Chelsea and the club are looking to sell him this summer
Chelsea have set an asking price of £37 million for Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Roma
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He scored 15 goals in 26 appearances and proved to be the biggest positive player in a disappointing season that led to the sacking of Jose Mourinho last week.
Roma currently sit eighth in Serie A and face a battle for a European spot, which will likely be a minimum requirement to have any chance of keeping Lukaku beyond this summer.
Lukaku’s wages could also be an issue for the Italian club as the forward’s Chelsea contract, which expires in 2026, is expected to be worth around £10m per year.
With this in mind, a move to Saudi Arabia could finally happen later this year.
Roma faced Al-Shabab in a friendly in Riyadh earlier this week, and Lukaku praised the strength of the Saudi Pro League, claiming it can become ‘one of the best in the world’ in the coming years.
He also said he could ‘absolutely’ see himself playing in the league in the future, fueling speculation that a move to the Middle East could be on the cards this summer.