Report: Chelsea to sign Lukaku from Inter for club-record €115M

Chelsea have reached an agreement with Inter Milan to sign Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee of €115 million (£97.5 million), according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.

Lukaku, who previously spent three years as a Blue, is expected to become Chelsea’s highest earner when he inks a five-year contract worth €12-13 million per season.

Chelsea are eager to complete the transfer by Sunday night to ensure Lukaku’s availability for their first Premier League game of the season against Crystal Palace on Aug. 14, Ornstein adds.

No other players are expected to be involved in the transfer.

The reported fee eclipses Chelsea’s previous club record set when the Blues signed Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen for £72 million last summer.

News of the offer comes three days after the Belgian striker informed Inter officials of his desire to leave and rejoin Chelsea.

Lukaku, who finished last season as the second-highest scorer in Serie A, publicly said he wanted to remain at Inter earlier this summer. But an approach from Chelsea has seemingly resulted in a change of heart.

Playing under Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is understood to be one of the driving forces behind Lukaku’s eagerness to reunite with the Premier League outfit.

Lukaku was at Chelsea from 2011 to 2014, but he left following only 15 appearances. He developed into a top striker at Everton before his lucrative transfer to Manchester United in 2017.

After two disappointing years at Old Trafford, the 28-year-old moved to Italy, where he revived his career while re-establishing himself as a premier striker under Antonio Conte at Inter Milan.

Lukaku scored 24 goals over 36 appearances last season.