The Blues are reportedly ready to step up their interest in signing Inter striker Lukaku, formerly of Everton, this summer, and recent reports claim the move is being pursued with a view to enticing the Belgium international and his agent Mino Raiola, a former adviser to Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, into choosing London over his current club.
Inter Milan forward Romelu Lukaku is in the final year of his contract and the Belgian football club are ready to activate a €30 million option to buy him at the end of the season. The 22-year-old has scored 25 goals in 38 games for the Italian side and is a target for a number of European clubs like Chelsea and Juventus.
When Chelsea lost out on the chance to sign Ivan Perisic, it was clear that the Blues still had a big need for a top class striker. According to reports, the Portugal international is now ready to leave Inter Milan after falling out with the club over their transfer strategy. The deal for Lukaku is believed to be close to completion, but there are now reports that Chelsea are ready to raise the stakes and up their bid to the £50 million mark.
With most of the major European seasons now complete, the rumour mill has been sent into overdrive as clubs ponder their moves ahead of what will be a busy transfer window. Check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Chelsea ready to step up interest in Lukaku
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has a striker at the top of his wanted list this summer, and the Daily Mail reports that the Blues are ready to make a move for Belgium international Romelu Lukaku. The Champions League winners originally brought Lukaku to English football from Anderlecht in 2011, but he didn’t score a single goal for the club in 15 appearances across all competitions. Instead he was loaned out to West Bromwich Albion and Everton, where his prolific form led to a permanent move to Goodison Park. After two years at Manchester United he moved to Serie A with Inter Milan, where he won the title this season. Inter’s owners are desperate to cut costs despite their Scudetto success, and coach Antonio Conte has already left the club in protest at plans to offload £80m-worth of players. Chelsea are hoping to take advantage of the situation by bringing the 28-year-old back to Stamford Bridge, after he scored 64 goals in just 95 games across two seasons at the San Siro. The club signed Timo Werner from RB Leipzig last season to score the goals needed for a title challenge, but he contributed just six in 35 Premier League appearances and was guilty of missing a catalogue of gilt-edged chances. Chelsea have also been linked with Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland. – Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only) – European Soccer Pick ‘Em: Compete to win $10,000
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08.30 GMT: Manchester City are looking to offload youngster Lukas Nmecha to raise funds in an effort to sign Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane and Jack Grealish of Aston Villa this summer, according to the Daily Mail. The 22-year-old has impressed on loan for Vincent Kompany’s Anderlecht this season, scoring 14 goals in 31 appearances in the league. Nmecha came through the Manchester City academy and has had several loans through his development.
PAPER GOSSIP
– Juventus are set to extend Alvaro Morata’s loan this summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. The 28-year-old joined from Atletico Madrid last summer, racking up 21 goal involvements in 32 appearances in Serie A. The extension will cost Juve and new boss Massimiliano Allegri €10m in loan fees, which was agreed as a clause when the Spain international joined last season. 
• Barnwell’s best moves: 100-51 | 50-1 • January transfer grades • Latest completed major transfers – Jose Mourinho is interested in signing defender Jerome Boateng for AS Roma this summer. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that with the 32-year-old’s contract expiring this summer, Roma is a likely destination. They also say that Mourinho was an admirer of the former Germany international and tried to sign him while in charge of Manchester United. A deal is said to be on the table for the player through intermediaries, with the hope of securing his signature ahead of the new season. – Several Premier League clubs are eyeing a move for Espanyol’s Adrian Embarba, according to AS. According to the outlet, West Ham United, Wolves, Norwich City and Watford are on the trail of the winger, who has had a good season with 23 goal involvements in 36 La Liga Segunda appearances. The 29-year-old wants to extend his stay at his current club despite interest from England as well as Levante and Real Betis in Spain. – Internazionale are looking at Alessandro Florenzi and Emerson Royal as possible replacements for Achraf Hakimi should the 22-year-old leave this summer. Calciomercato reports that Florenzi is set to return to Roma following a loan stint at Paris Saint-Germain, despite an optional €9m fee to keep the full-back. Whilst Emerson Royal could be set to leave Barcelona in an effort to raise funds this summer following a period on loan at Real Betis. – Serge Aurier has told Tottenham he will not be renewing his contract as he enters the final year at the club. L’Equipe reports that the 28-year-old is looking to move on at the end of the current deal at Spurs in an interview, with a return to PSG the ideal destination for the full-back. The Ivory Coast international joined the London club from the French capital back in 2017 and while a move back might be ideal, he hasn’t closed the door on other potential suitors.Inter are looking to make their first major signing in the January transfer window and they are targeting a striker.. Read more about mls players association and let us know what you think.
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