Report: Lukaku nearing Inter return after Chelsea approve €8M loan fee

Chelsea reached an agreement in principle with Inter Milan that will allow Romelu Lukaku to return to the Nerazzurri on loan, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

The striker cost Chelsea €115 million to sign from Inter last August. However, last season’s disappointing return of eight goals over 26 Premier League outings – including a drought of over four months to begin 2022 – encouraged the Blues to accept a reported fee of €8 million plus add-ons from Inter.

Lukaku is expected to undergo a medical with Inter next week before joining his former side for the 2022-23 campaign.

The 29-year-old, who was also on Chelsea’s books from 2011-14, was prolific in front of goal during his stints with Anderlecht, West Bromwich Albion, and Everton earlier in his career. He wasn’t timid at Manchester United either, as he notched a reasonable 28 goals over 66 league appearances before leaving them for Inter in 2019.

His two seasons with Inter were the most fruitful of his career. He netted 47 goals, helping Inter win their first Scudetto since 2010 in his second campaign, and collected numerous individual awards.

Following last summer’s big-money transfer, Lukaku’s relationship with Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel appeared irreparable when the Belgian expressed unhappiness with the coach’s tactics during an unauthorized interview in December. He was subsequently benched for many of the team’s big matches, including Chelsea’s Champions League knockout games against Lille and Real Madrid.