The Three Players Inter Milan Could Use For Romelu Lukaku Chelsea Swap-Deal

Chelsea are holding talks with Inter Milan over a transfer of Romelu Lukaku this summer and a swap-deal could be on the cards with three players being potential options of being included in a deal, according to reports. 

Lukaku’s desire is clear - he wants out of Chelsea after just one season following his £97.5m club-record return last year. Thomas Tuchel’s side are willing to let him go but the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital consortium are only ready to give the green light if it makes financial sense for the Blues. 

Inter Milan are unable to afford to buy him outright, plus take on his £325,000-a-week wages but Lukaku is ready to take a significant pay cut to make the move happen. However, a loan deal is on the table if the Serie A side are prepared to pay a fee.

However, there is another possible option which would see Lukaku return to the San Siro on a permanent basis. 

As Ben Jacobs reports, Inter are open to offering defender Milan Skriniar to Chelsea if they want to pursue a swap-deal. Chelsea have been suggested to be interested in the Slovakian. 

Lautaro Martinez has been another name linked and would be an attacking replacement for Lukaku but Inter would prefer not to lose the Argentine. 

REUTERS / Alamy

The third name linked is defender Alessandro Bastoni, who is attracting interest from fellow Premier League rivals Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. He is valued at £50 million. 

Thomas Tuchel has already acknowledged that those two sides will offer them a challenge, so if they want and are able to snatch a target away from their competitors, this is the perfect chance to do so.

"It will be a super tough race,” said Tuchel last month. “Manchester United will be in the race and Tottenham will be in the race with Antonio Conte for sure. 

"We want to stay in the race and Liverpool and Man City do everything to make their squads bigger and they set the standard so high. This is the challenge in which we compete."

Chelsea will only allow a deal on their terms and if it suits them. Bastoni and Skriniar would help their defensive rebuild this summer amid links to Jules Kounde, Josko Gvardiol and Matthijs de Ligt. While, although unlikely, Martinez would provide a solution to replacing Lukaku should an agreement be reached between the two clubs. 

But the decision will be down to head coach Tuchel after Boehly promised him control over the decision making process over who he wants to sign and see sold during the summer transfer window.