The Blues are on the lookout for another striker, just a year after spending €53m on Timo Werner. Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku is said to be their target, and five summer sales are planned to fund a bid for the forward.
According to Sunday World, Lukaku’s future is up in the air presently, with Antonio Conte leaving his role as the manager of Internazionale. The Italian had convinced him to join him in Serie A side in the first place, and the pair won their first title together this past weekend.
However, with Conte gone, the Belgian could follow. Chelsea have been linked continuously with a move for their former player, who initially joined the club as a teenager, before being sold on. Lukaku has since gone on to play for Everton, Manchester United, and Inter but could soon move elsewhere due to the current crisis at San Siro.
To fund a move for the striker, Chelsea will need to free up funds, as well as, space within their squad. The report suggests that the Blues would be willing to sell Kepa Arrizabalaga and Ross Barkley, along with the academy trio of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham, and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Meanwhile, some of the on-loan players could be moved on too, such as Victor Moses, Tiemoue Bakayoko, and Danny Drinkwater.
Abraham and Hudson-Odoi have been linked with big moves already. The former, who is a striker, is expected to depart the club after being sidelined by Thomas Tuchel. Abraham has no shortage of suitors too, with West Ham United among those keen to sign him. Hudson-Odoi has been linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund, where he could replace the outgoing Jadon Sancho.
Chelsea are expected to make a move for Lukaku after the Champions League final this Saturday. The Blues are against Manchester City in the trophy clash and are looking to win the European Cup for the second time in their history.