Inter will explore the details of the potential return of Romelu Lukaku in a summit with his lawyer later today. The deal is challenging considering the numbers in question. However, the striker is pressing, and the parties will examine the formula to make it happen.
According to La Repubblica, Chelsea could accept only a loan spell with a €23M initial fee and a €70M obligation to buy. Those sums would allow them not to register a loss in their balance sheets considering how much they spent to acquire him.
Inter are willing to insert Stefan De Vrij in the package to bring Lukaku back to offset part of the spending, the publication informs. While the Blues could use a defender considering their departures, his evaluation is not too high since he has just one year on his contract.
The striker would have to accept a hefty pay cut as well. The Nerazzurri have set a €6M cap on the wages of their stars. Nicolò Barella, Marcelo Brozovic and Lautaro Martinez are at such level. On the other hand, Inter would pay fewer taxes on the salary of Lukaku and that could raise the bar a little. But the transfer would have to happen in short order to use the fiscal benefits, Corriere della Sera reports.
Our Take on Lukaku Trying to Return to Inter
The figures of the prospective deal seem too hefty for a side that is not in great financial shape. On the other hand, the opportunity might be too good to pass up. Inter could utilize a short-term approach, add Lukaku on loan and worry about the giant option to buy a year from now. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea would really sign off on those terms, though.