Chelsea Leave Lukaku Behind as Napoli Move Looms

Romelu Lukaku is conspicuously absent from Chelsea’s 28-player preseason tour to the United States. The Belgian striker, who recently returned from a loan term at Roma and had a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, is not included in the English club’s plans for the upcoming season.

Calciomercato has reported that the London-based team, which is currently under the supervision of Italian manager Enzo Maresca, is scheduled to participate in five friendly matches against Wrexham, Celtic, Club America, Manchester City, and Real Madrid during their upcoming US tour. They will then travel to face Inter Milan on August 11th, just one week prior to the commencement of the Premier League season.

Chelsea has established a price tag of approximately €30 million for Lukaku, indicating their intention to permanently dispose of the striker. Napoli, where Antonio Conte is anxiously anticipating Lukaku’s arrival, has not been deterred by this figure. Conte’s Instagram post was recently liked by the striker, which has sparked rumours of a potential reunion. The duo previously collaborated at Inter Milan, where they successfully secured the Serie A championship.

Lukaku has purportedly already reached an agreement with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, proposing a net salary of €7 million annually. Nevertheless, the concluding component of the puzzle pertains to the potential transfer of Victor Osimhen to Paris Saint-Germain. Although the pace of this negotiation has marginally decreased, it is anticipated that it will be resolved in due course. On the other hand, Osimhen may evaluate proposals from Saudi Arabia.

It is becoming increasingly probable that Conte and Lukaku will soon be collaborating once more, this time in the vicinity of Mount Vesuvius, as the parts begin to align.