Chelsea outcast ‘agrees’ four-year deal with European giants as huge €40m swap deal edges closer
Chelsea outcast has reportedly ‘agreed’ a four-year deal with Serie A giants Juventus as talks over a swap deal involving Dusan Vlahovic continue.
The 30-year-old returned to Chelsea in 2021 from Inter Milan after the Premier League side paid £97m to re-sign him.
Lukaku has proven to be a flop at Stamford Bridge as he only scored eight goals in 26 Premier League games before he returned to Inter Milan on loan.
The Belgium international helped Inter Milan reach the Champions League final last season and it was initially expected that he would return to the Serie A outfit on a permanent basis this summer.
But it was revealed a couple of weeks ago that Inter Milan have pulled out of the race for Lukaku after they were left ‘furious’ upon discovering that the striker has been in ‘negotiations’ with rivals Juventus.
It has since emerged that Chelsea are in talks with Juventus over a swap deal, which would include former Arsenal target Vlahovic.
The 23-year-old has scored 23 goals in 63 appearances for Juventus in two seasons but he is on the market this summer as a result of their financial difficulties.
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Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio is now reporting that ‘contacts are continuing between Chelsea and Juventus for the possible exchange between Lukaku and Vlahovic’.
The two European clubs are ‘slowly’ nearing an agreement. Juventus initially ‘demanded’ 50 million euros but they are ‘willing’ to close the deal at 40 million euros.
Lukaku is eager to finalise this move and Di Marzio adds that the striker has an ‘agreement’ with Juventus over a three-year contract which will include the option for a further year.
Speaking back in April, former Premier League attacker Gabby Agbonlahor encouraged Chelsea to “bring back” Lukaku.
“I’d bring Lukaku back. Ivan Toney is also a great shout. They need someone who is going to score you goals, all types of goals, and who has played in the Premier League,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.
“It has to be a signing to tie in with Financial Fair Play as well. The amount of money they’ve already spent, they probably can’t go out and buy a £120million striker.
“Get the team playing to Lukaku’s strengths. When Lukaku was at Chelsea, Chillwell and James were injured and they weren’t getting the ball in the box for him. He wasn’t getting the service.
“You look at Chelsea yesterday against Real Madrid, Lukaku would have scored a couple of goals at least – Reece James was putting the ball in the box and Havertz isn’t really going to get in there and be aggressive.”
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