According to Nicolo Schira, Napoli is poised to make a €25 million bid for Chelsea’s forward Romelu Lukaku. Reports indicate that Lukaku has already agreed to a three-year contract with the Italian club.
The Belgian striker has verbally committed to a deal extending until 2027, with an annual wage of €6.5 million plus bonuses. Additionally, there might be an option to extend the contract until 2028.
Despite Napoli’s offer falling short of Chelsea’s €40 million asking price, the Blues may have to consider it due to the lack of higher bids from other clubs. However, for the transfer to proceed, Napoli must first sell their current star striker, Victor Osimhen.
This has proven to be a challenging task as no clubs are willing to meet the €130 million release clause in Osimhen’s contract. Consequently, Napoli is contemplating reducing his price tag to attract potential buyers.
Lukaku has assured Napoli’s new manager, Antonio Conte, that he is willing to wait for the move to materialize, rekindling a successful partnership from their time at Inter Milan.
Under Conte’s guidance at Inter, Lukaku experienced the pinnacle of his career, leading the club to the 2021 Scudetto. Conte had previously attempted to sign Lukaku during his tenures at Juventus and Chelsea.
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Following his return to Chelsea after a loan spell at Roma last season, Lukaku does not feature in the club’s plans for the upcoming season. Lukaku rejoined Chelsea from Inter in the summer of 2021 for a then-club record transfer fee of €115 million.
However, his 2021-22 season was marred by controversy, as he clashed with manager Thomas Tuchel, publicly criticized the club, and delivered lackluster performances on the pitch.
Since then, Chelsea has been actively seeking to offload Lukaku but has struggled to find a club willing to meet the amortized cost of his transfer each summer. Consequently, he spent the 2022-23 season back at Inter on loan, followed by another loan spell at Roma.
Lukaku’s recent stint at Euro 2024 with Belgium was also disappointing, as he failed to score, and Belgium was eliminated in the round of 16 by France. This added to the urgency for both the player and Chelsea to find a suitable resolution for his future.
Napoli’s pursuit of Lukaku represents a significant development in the transfer market. If Osimhen’s sale can be arranged, Lukaku’s move to Napoli could rejuvenate his career under Conte’s familiar management, while also providing Chelsea with a viable financial solution.
As the transfer window progresses, all eyes will be on Napoli’s negotiations and the potential reshaping of their attacking lineup.