According to the Telegraph, Romelu Lukaku will agree to a Chelsea reunion provided the European champions pay an eye-watering £100 million for the Inter striker.
After arriving from Manchester United in 2019, the Belgian has prospered at the San Siro, leading the club to the Scudetto last season and putting an end to Juventus' domination in Italy.
Former Inter manager Antonio Conte stepped down this summer as the club sought to offload its key players, though Lukaku was not anticipated to go. Chelsea's hand could be pressed on Inter if they launch a £100 million bid for their former striker.
The Blues will have no trouble persuading Lukaku to return to West London, according to the Telegraph, with the Belgian willing to accept a return to the club that sold him to Everton for £28 million seven years ago.
Thomas Tuchel is in severe need of a new striker for the 2021-22 season, after £53 million signing Timo Werner failed to impress in his first season.
Erling Haaland has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, but Borussia Dortmund are adamant about keeping their star player for at least another season.
After acquiring Lukaku for £73 million from United two years ago, Inter had already turned down an initial offer of £88 million plus defender Marcos Alonso.
After failing to break into the first squad at Stamford Bridge in 2014, Lukaku quit the club. Despite his unsuccessful initial tenure at the club, the Belgian is said to be keen on working with Tuchel after he guided them to Champions League glory last season and believes he still has unfinished business at the club.
Chelsea are willing to pay Lukaku a weekly remuneration of £250,000, making him the club's highest-paid player.
Chelsea and Manchester City, both Premier League rivals, are looking for a headline striker this summer. After being advised by Inter in March that Lukaku was not for sale, the English champions are now chasing a trade for Harry Kane.
The Blues are said to have half of the finances needed to pay an £85 million transfer for Lukaku, with the remainder coming from the sale of Tammy Abraham.
Aston Villa and Arsenal are interested in Abraham, but Chelsea may have to decrease their £40 million asking price to sell him this summer.
Inter needed to sell players this summer owing to their poor financial state as a result of the pandemic's devastating impact on the club.
The £51.3 million sale of Achraf Hakimi to Paris Saint-Germain has alleviated some of that pressure, putting the Serie A club in a stronger position to keep hold of the 28-year-old.
Lukaku had 15 first-team appearances for Chelsea during his tenure there, although he did not score any goals. Since then, he has scored 193 goals for Everton, United, and Inter.
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