Lukaku: Why Milan are serious about Chelsea outcast

Romelu Lukaku has emerged as a concrete candidate for Milan, who are willing to fight with Antonio Conte’s Napoli for the Chelsea outcast.

The 31-year-old Belgian striker spent the 2023-24 season on loan with Roma, where he continued to prove himself in the Italian topflight, picking up 21 goals and four assists across 47 matches. With no buy clause attached to his move, he returned to West London this month.

Conte has started a new project at Napoli and wants to be reunited with Lukaku, but a move cannot be completed until a buyer is found for Victor Osimhen, who has a €120-130m release clause. In the meantime, Chelsea want to cut their losses and sell the Belgian striker, who has no place in Enzo Maresca’s squad.

Milan serious about Lukaku

Page 26 of today’s Gazzetta dello Sport details how Milan are seriously interested in making a move for Lukaku this summer, should they ultimately decide to give up on a move for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, whose €15m in agent commissions have caused things stalled.

The Rossoneri, looking to take advantage of their strong relationship with Chelsea, would try to snap up the Belgian forward on a loan deal. He would be happy to return to San Siro and the Lombardy capital, where he shined with Inter before his fateful move to London.

Milan looked for Lukaku last summer and would be happy to welcome the striker, even if the move would prove more controversial for their fans, considering his Nerazzurri history and on-pitch clash with now-director Zlatan Ibrahimovic.