Romelu Lukaku could finally be set to return to Inter on a permanent deal from Chelsea, with a moving edging closer and closer.
The Belgian left Inter for Chelsea in 2021 for a reported fee of around €113 million, yet just a few months later, he was poised for a return to the Italian club after a hugely frustrating stint in West London.
He was consequently loaned back to the Nerazzurri last season, and while he was not at his sparkling best, he still racked up 14 goals and seven assists in all competitions. He endured his tough moments, such as the disappointing misses in the UEFA Champions League Final defeat against Manchester City, as well as constant injury troubles, yet he still had an alright season overall.
The most notable factor was that in certain instances, he was showing signs of the brilliant form he had prior to his Chelsea move, despite being largely rotated with Edin Dzeko.
As a result, both Inter and Lukaku himself seem to be ready to get a deal over the line to make his move permanent, and all parties seem to be making great strides in sealing it.
A report from La Gazzetta dello Sport has revealed that the Belgian has 'never been so close' to returning to Inter permanently.
Inter have already met with his lawyer-agent and informed him of the club's decision to buy Lukaku outright, with an offer of €30 million plus bonuses being ready to submit to Chelsea.
Additionally, the Nerazzurri reportedly want to close a deal for Lukaku by the end of next week. The 30-year-old is expected to be available for Simone Inzaghi by 16 July.
It is still unclear whether Chelsea will accept such an offer, especially since Mauricio Pochettino does not have many strikers available at the club. The chances of him leaving for around €30 million is not helped by the fact that the Blues will want a significant amount back from the original €113 million they had invested, and so a deal could take some negotiating time.
