Chelsea havereportedly made an official bid for Victor Osimhen as Romelu Lukaku prepares to finalize his move to Napoli.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Blues have submitted an offer to Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, and are set to begin formal negotiations with Napoli on Wednesday.
It remains uncertain whether the three parties will reach an agreement, but the Nigerian forward has already expressed his desire to leave the Serie A club.
As discussions for Osimhen’s transfer to Stamford Bridge continue, Lukaku is on the brink of joining Napoli. He is expected to arrive in Naples shortly to undergo a medical before signing a permanent contract with the club.
Meanwhile, Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli has also made a lucrative offer to Osimhen, but his agent Calenda has made it clear on social media that the striker has no intention of leaving Europe at this stage of his career.
Chelsea are eager to secure a top-quality striker before the transfer window closes on Friday. While progress is being made in their pursuit of Osimhen,the club has identified Brentford’s Ivan Toney as an alternative option should they fail to land the Napoli star.
Romelu Lukaku, a professional football athlete, has voiced his wish to depart from Chelsea in favor of joining Roma. Both clubs are currently in talks to arrange a temporary transfer agreement.
Lukaku was supposed to stay with Inter permanently after his loan, but Inter got upset when they found out he was also talking to Juventus.
Chelsea and Juventus talked a lot about a deal for Lukaku. They also talked about Vlahovic moving to Chelsea. But they couldn’t agree on a deal.
Juventus fans made it obvious that they were not happy about Lukaku possibly joining the team. They expressed their dissension by demonstrating during a pre-season game.
According to The Telegraph, Lukaku has changed his mind about joining Juventus and has told Chelsea that he wants to join Roma instead.
The report says that Chelsea and Roma are currently discussing an agreement that would allow Lukaku to go on loan to the Serie A league for the rest of the season.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said that Lukaku will not be allowed back in the team.
“I haven’t talked to him yet because nothing has changed,” said Pochettino.
If the player and the club want to figure things out, they should talk to each other, not me. They can let me know if something is different.
I won’t move until either the club or the player decide to talk to me. I agreed with the situation when I got here. I couldn’t make any changes.
It happened before we got here. In the future, things may be different. Football is a sport where things can constantly change. Life can be different. Right now, today, everything is still the same. If something is different, we will change to fit in with the new situation.
Romelu Lukaku’s actions as he allegedly persists in seeking a move to Juventus have drawn criticism from Inter Milan vice president Javier Zanetti.
The association between Chelsea striker Lukaku and Inter Milan, where he spent the previous season on loan, reportedly deteriorated earlier in the summer as the Belgian player indicated his desire for a transfer to Juventus.
This came despite Inter Milan’s aspirations to secure his permanent signing.
Javier Zanetti, the esteemed former Inter midfielder, has strongly criticised the 30-year-old forward for his behaviour.
Lukaku had previously expressed affection for the club, stating that he loved it and praising its “best fans in the world.” However, Zanetti’s comments imply Lukaku’s actions have contradicted his earlier sentiments.
The Inter chief told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Given what Inter has done for him, we expected him to behave differently, as a professional and as a man. He has the right to go where he wants, of course, but he could have told us that beforehand. Nobody is bigger than the club, and when building a team, you always have to consider who you are bringing into the dressing room.”
Lukaku is likely to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, but his future is currently uncertain.
The former Manchester United attacker, whose contract at Chelsea expires in 2027, may have tarnished his reputation with the Serie A side as he reportedly stopped answering phone calls from the club.
At the same time, he opened talks with Juventus over a potential switch, and his actions have sparked outrage from fans of Inter and the Bianconeri.
Lukaku and Chelsea agreed he would not link up with the first-team squad earlier this summer, and the club have all but confirmed his exit after not giving him a squad number.
The Blues start their season against Liverpool on Sunday, August 13, whereas Inter’s campaign begins against Monza on Saturday, August 12.
Inter currently hold the leading position in the pursuit of theUSMNT forward, following Arsenal’s dismissal of a €30 million (£26 million/$33 million) bid from Monaco on Monday.
As the transfer deadline day draws nearer, Arsenal might consider reducing their initial asking price of €50 million (£43 million or $55 million) to €40 million (£34 million or $44 million).
Meanwhile, the Serie A champions are actively exploring alternative options for a striker, a statement confirmed by the club’s sporting director, Piero Ausilio.
However, it’s worth noting that Inter has ruled out the possibility of re-acquiring Romelu Lukaku.
Speaking to Sport Mediaset, Ausilio said: “We’re looking for someone who can score goals. Balogun? He is one of the possibilities, but we’re not just following him. Lukaku? I’m not interested.”
In case Inter miss out on Balogun, they have identified Udinese forward Beto, who is valued at €30 million, and Porto’s Mehdi Taremi, who is also wanted by Tottenham if Harry Kane leaves for Bayern Munich.
Alvaro Morata’s name was also on the club’s shortlist, but the Spaniard is close to extending his stay at Atletico Madrid.
Simone Inzaghi’s side will be next seen in action in an international friendly against Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday.
Reports indicate thatRomelu Lukaku has allegedly agreed to a three-year contract with Juventus, pending the outcome of Dusan Vlahovic’s potential transfer to Chelsea.
Juventus, the Serie A giants, have a strong interest in acquiring the services of the Belgian striker.
Yet, this move is contingent upon Vlahovic’s departure from Juventus.
As per Di Marzio, the two clubs are actively engaged in discussions to orchestrate a swap deal that would involve the exchange of these two forwards.
Meanwhile, Lukaku has already reached an agreement on personal terms with the Bianconeri.
He is poised to sign a three-year contract, inclusive of an option for an additional year.
Chelsea has set their sights on Vlahovic as a valuable addition to enhance their attacking options.
However, they are hesitant to meet the €50 million (£43m/$54.60m) asking price.
Conversely, Juventus seems open to negotiation and may accept a reduced fee of €40m (£34.5m/$43.69m), given their eagerness to finalize the arrangement.
Juventus aims to address their financial situation and seeks to maximize their gains by selling Vlahovic.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri acknowledged that the deal’s completion is intertwined with the club’s financial considerations.
Ongoing negotiations between the two clubs are striving to bring Lukaku to Turin and secureVlahovic’s shift to Chelsea.
Yet, Lukaku has recently appeared to downplay suggestions of his imminent move to Turin, fueling further speculation about his future.
Personal terms have been reachedbetween Romelu Lukaku and Juventus, as reported by Sky Italia. However, the Belgium striker’s move to Juventus hinges on Chelsea’s approval.
Lukaku, at 30 years old, has agreed to a three-year contract with the Italian club, which includes an option for a further season.
Juventus has put forth a proposal: they are willing to take Lukaku this summer if Chelsea secures the signature of Juve striker Dusan Vlahovic and pays €40 million as part of the arrangement.
The Serbia international, Vlahovic, was acquired by Juve for €70 million from Fiorentina in January 2022.
However, the 23-year-old has struggled to replicate his prolific goal-scoring form under the management of Massimiliano Allegri.
Lukaku, who joined Chelsea from Inter Milan for €115 million in 2021, experienced a less-than-ideal 2022-23 season while on loan at the Italian club. He purportedly declined a permanent return to Inter and is considering an offer toplay in Saudi Arabia.
Chelsea is reportedly open to a swap deal that would send Romelu Lukaku to Juventus in exchange for Dusan Vlahovic heading to Stamford Bridge.
According to Sky Sports Italia, Juventus is the only club currently showing interest in the 30-year-old striker, as his potential return to Internazionale has been ruled out.
Lukaku spent last season on loan at Inter, but with their interest withdrawn, he is now uncertain about his future.
While there have been some interests from Saudi clubs, Lukaku is said to be keen on returning to Serie A.
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has been impressed with Dusan Vlahovic’s performances, as the 23-year-old Serbian forward netted 14 goals for Juventus during the 2022-23 season.
Lautaro Martinez has criticizedRomelu Lukaku amid a strained relationship between Lukaku and Inter.
Inter had been in talks with Chelsea regarding Lukaku’s potential transfer, but it was later revealed that Lukaku was also negotiating with Serie A rivals Juventus.
As a result of this development, Inter swiftly pulled out of the negotiations. While reports suggest that Lukaku attempted to mend fences with Inter and his former teammates, he was met with a cold reception from the squad.
Martinez, Lukaku’s former strike partner, expressed his disapproval of Lukaku’s “attitude” and revealed that the 30-year-old didn’t even respond to his calls during the tumultuous period.
“I was disappointed, it’s the truth. I also tried to call him in those days of chaos, he never answered me, the same he did with my other companions.
“After so many years together, after so many things lived together, I was disappointed. Thankfully, it’s his choice. I wish him the best. But I didn’t expect this attitude,” he stated to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
After a phenomenal last season where he scored 27 goals in 56 matches across all competitions, Martinez, has been handed the armband for the 2023-24 season.
He is ecstatic after being bestowed with the honour of leading the Serie A side and feels “ready” for the job.
“Wearing it means taking on more responsibility within the team, inside the locker room. But I’ve always done it before. I have a goal: to lend a hand to comrades in need. Important players have left?
“True, but I’m ready. For me it is a source of pride, I want to live up to the many champions who have worn the armband in Inter’s history and make everyone proud of me.
“I’m in my sixth season here: I understand everything, I know everything, what I’ve learned I make available. I told the newcomers that if they’ve arrived at Inter it’s because they have something and they’ve been chosen, not by chance.
“When you play, give everything and then the love of the fans will take care of the rest,” he stated. Juventus are trying topersuade Chelsea to allow Lukaku to leave on another loan spell with an option to buy but the Blues remain adamant that they want a permanent sale.
On Thursday, Martinez is set to participate in a pre-season friendly against Al-Nassr at the Nagai Stadium in Japan.
Striker Romelu Lukaku, who is currently linked with a move toSerie A rivals Juventus, has received strong criticism from a group of Inter “ultra” supporters known as the Curva Nord.
The group released a statement on Instagram expressing their disapproval of Lukaku as he negotiates a potential deal with Juventus.
Lukaku, who is currently under contract with Chelsea after a loan spell at Inter, is widely expected to make a move during the upcoming summer transfer window.
“We will never see you again from now on Lukaku,” said the ultras. “You have betrayed us all. We’ve always stood up for you in tough times, now you’re stabbing us in the back.
You sell yourself to the highest bidder after kissing our badge as a cheap mercenary. Before you can be a champion you have to be a man and you’re not one.”
Lukaku first joined Inter in 2019 from Manchester United for a club record £75 million ($98m) fee and enjoyed a stellar two seasons – so much so that Chelsea re-signed him in 2021.
But the Belgian was then loaned back to San Siro for the 2022-23 campaign, having enjoyed a mixed time since that 2021 transfer.
Juventus now seems the most likely destination for the 30-year-old as he seeks to reboot his career once more this summer. However, some Juve fans are not happy with the potential move.
Romelu Lukaku transfer saga has taken another turn with Juventus entering the picture by making a bid for the Chelsea striker.
While it appeared that Lukaku’s return to Inter was inevitable, with the player rejecting other offers and expressing his desire to rejoin the Champions League finalists, Juventus has now matched Inter’s bid.
They have offered €37.5 million (£32m/$41m) plus bonuses, which could reach €40m (£34m/$45m).
According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, Lukaku is now refusing to communicate with Inter directors.
Juventus has informed Chelsea that they need to sell Dusan Vlahovic before finalizing the deal for Lukaku.
They hope to complete the Vlahovic transfer before August 4, which means the Lukaku saga might extend for several more weeks.
While there has been significant speculation surrounding Vlahovic, there is little concrete news regarding an actual bid for him at this time.
Chelsea would like to wrap the Lukaku deal up as soon as possible and would prefer to continue dealing with Inter.
Juventus need to sell Vlahovic before they can buy Lukaku, whereas Inter will have the funds to sign him once Andre Onana completes his move to Manchester United.
Romelu Lukaku has rejected a massive offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal worth £45 million ($57m), as he only wants to leave Chelsea for Inter.
Lukaku spent last season on loan at Inter and wants to remain at the San Siro for the 2023-24 season but Inter have yet to table a formal transfer bid, instead hoping to sign the Belgium international on loan once more.
Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Al-Hilal tabled an eye-watering offer worth £45m-per-season for Lukaku, but he has opted against following team-mates Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, and N’Golo Kante to the Middle East.
The Sun reports that Chelsea are unwilling to sanction another loan, and have told Lukaku that he will either have to leave permanently or stay and play under Mauricio Pochettino next season.
It remains to be seen if Inter will be able to fund a move for Lukaku, who scored 10 Serie A goals last season, but they are in talks with Manchester United over a deal to sell goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Lukaku now faces being left in limbo if Inter are unable to fund a bid. He has seemingly made it clear, however, that he has no intention of moving to Saudi Arabia, so there is a real possibility that he could be forced into stayingat Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku will return to Chelsea next month, if a deal to sell him is not brokered before then.
Chelsea is firm in its stance and will not be swayed by any pressure exerted by RomeluLukaku and Inter Milan to facilitate another loan move, as it would have significant financial repercussions.
Lukaku, who rejoined Chelsea for a fee of £97.5 million from Inter Milan in the summer of 2021, previously had an unsuccessful stint with the club as a teenager when he joined from Anderlecht in 2011.
However, he played a crucial role in Inter Milan’s triumphant 2020-21 season, contributing to their first Scudetto win in ten years and being recognized as the league’s Most Valuable Player before transferring to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea remains unwavering in its determination to retain Lukaku’s services and is not open to the possibility of another loan arrangement.
Chelsea is resolute in retaining Lukaku and is not willing to entertain the idea of another loan arrangement.
A fallout with former boss, Thomas Tuchel after an interview flirting with the Nerazzurri spelled the end for him in London.
The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino has not changed the striker’s mind about a return, as reported by Football Italia.
Chelsea set Lukaku’s asking price
The Blues loaned Lukaku to Inter for less than £7m last season, despite paying almost 100 million for his signature a year earlier. The Italians want the same route for next season.
Mirror UK reports that the two-time UEFA Champions League winners have rebuffed any loan attempt, even with an obligation to buy, and have made a demand of £34m for the former Everton striker.
They want to put a stop to his endless charade but are standing firm; their hands will not be forced. Reports in the Italian media claim that AC Milan are willing to pay the asking price.
The Athletic reports that Villarreal striker, Nicholas Jackson has completed a medical ahead of a switch to the Premier League as Pochettino hopes to get his squad sorted, with a move for another striker not ruled out.
Sports Brief analysed five reasons Lukaku’s return to Chelsea makes sense for both parties as the tussle continues for the future of the former West Brom striker.
He is yet to fulfil his initial ambition of beingDidier Drogba’s heir in West London, while the club need not spend heavily on another number 9 if they keep him.
Lukaku – who lines up against Manchester City in the glamour end-of-season showcase – was pictured with the rapper at a teammate’s wedding.
Megan, 28, and Lukaku, 30, were seen holding hands at the romantic Italian lakeside ceremony where Lautauro Martinez tied the knot with Augustina Gandolfo.
Video unearthed by MailOnline shows them sitting next to each other and clapping as the bride and groom make their way through a function room at the exclusive Villa D’Este hotel at Cernobbio on Lake Como.
It comes after Megan posted an intriguing picture on her Instagram of her designer handbag at a recent match in Milan between Inter Milan and Atalanta.
Megan, 28, and Lukaku, 30, were seen holding hands at the romantic Italian lakeside ceremony where Lautauro Martinez tied the knot with Augustina Gandolfo
Megan has been on a whistle-stop tour of Europe in recent weeks and has been spotted in London and Paris and her trip comes just weeks after her close pal Tory Lanez was found guilty of shooting her.
Lukaku is currently on loan at Inter from Premier League giants Chelsea and could be back at the Stanford Bridge club next season although his Italian side will be keen to keep hold of him.
Both he and Megan – who has more than 30 million followers on Instagram – jealously guard their private lives but they share the same representative, Jay Z’s Roc Nation Management.
Lukaku recently split with Belgian model Sarah Mens – who he dated for five years – according to Spanish sports newspaper Marca.
He was previously romantically linked to Belgian fitness guru Julia Vandenweghe who he was seen in 2014.
The WAP hitmaker was recently romantically linked to rapper Pardison Fontaine for over two years.
However back in February, there were rumors that the hitmaker and Pardison, 33, had split, after fans noticed that the two no longer followed each other on Instagram.
However, Pardison shared a photo of himself and another woman enjoying shots for Valentine’s Day, which many fans believed to be Megan, though it was unclear who was pictured.
As his Inter team gets ready to try to clinch a spot in theChampions League semifinals, under pressure head coach Simone Inzaghi claims criticism would help him develop.
With only one point earned in their previous five Serie A games, the Nerazzurri have increased pressure on Inzaghi and dropped to fifth position.
Monza defeated Inter 1-0 at home on Saturday, and they have been sobbing ahead of the second game against Benfica at San Siro on Wednesday, which they will begin with a 2-0 lead.
Inzaghi says he will not be affected by flak that comes his way as that is nothing new to him.
He told reporters on Tuesday: “I don’t think it’s strange [for questions to be asked over his future].
“Here at Inter, if you read before the Barcelona or Porto matches it was the same thing.
“It’s something I’m used to, as long as they criticise me [and not the players] it’s not a problem: as far as me and my staff, the criticisms help us to improve more and more.
“We know we have not had the path that Inter should have in the league, like many other teams we’ve had problems, but there are still eight games to go and we still have a margin.
“We have to be good at isolating ourselves and try to provide an important evening for our fans.”
Inter may have a very different squad next season,with Milan Skriniar on his way to Paris Saint-Germain, Romelu Lukaku’s loan deal coming to an end and also Stefan de Vrij among a group of players who are nearing the end of their contracts.
Inzaghi will not use that as an excuse.
He added: “We have to be good at isolating ourselves, as far as players are concerned, we have several who have contracts that are about to expire, but I see them working well every day.
“It’s part of today’s football to always be criticised or in the balance. We have to be good and strong, with a cool head and always think about the next match which at the moment is Benfica.”
Inter striker Romelu Lukaku has called for action from Serie A officials after allegedly being targeted by racist chants from Juventus fans following his equaliser at the Allianz Stadium.
The Belgium international netted a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time to earn Inter a 1-1 draw in Tuesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final first leg, before using his finger to shush the home fans.
Referee Davide Massa booked Lukaku for the celebration and showed the goalscorer a second yellow card following a heated aftermath that spilled over past full-time, leading to Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado and Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic also seeing red.
Lukaku pointed to his previous experiences of racism in Italy as he responded to the events with an Instagram post.
He said: “History repeats. [I’ve] been through it in 2019 and [now in] 2023 again.
“I hope the league really take actions for real this time because this beautiful game should be enjoyed by everyone.
Following “despicable” racist abuse directed at their client, Romelu Lukaku’s representatives have demanded an apology from Juventus and asked the Italian government to intervene.
The 95th minute of Tuesday’s Coppa Italia semifinal first leg between the two Serie A powerhouses saw Inter forward Romelu Lukaku score a penalty to earn his team a 1-1 draw.
However, Lukaku subsequently received a second yellow card after his celebration, which included holding a finger up to his lips in a “shushing” gesture to Juve’s fans, resulted in a melee between the teams.
Juve winger Juan Cuadrado and Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic also saw red.
Lukaku’s agency, Roc Nation Sports International, said the 29-year-old had been subject to racist abuse from sections of the home fanbase in Turin.
In a statement shared on Twitter, Roc Nation Sports International president Michael Yormark wrote:
“The racist remarks made towards Romelu Lukaku by Juventus fans in Turin were beyond despicable and cannot be accepted.
“Romelu scored a penalty in the game. Before, during and after the penalty, he was subjected to hostile and disgusting racist abuse.
“Romelu celebrated in the same manner he has previously celebrated goals. The referee’s response was to award a yellow card to Romelu.
A statement from the President of Roc Nation Sports International, Michael Yormark on tonight’s incident involving Romelu Lukaku pic.twitter.com/VSrNOupwdh
— Roc Nation Sports International (@RocNationSI) April 4, 2023
“Romelu deserves anapology from Juventus, and I expect the league to condemn the behaviour of this group of Juventus supporters immediately.
“The Italian authorities must use this opportunity to tackle racism, rather than punish the victim of the abuse. I am certain that the footballing world shares the same sentiment.”
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi also came to the forward’s defence.
“I see a player who scores, celebrates, and everything happens there.
Lukaku’s celebration was misunderstood,” he said.
“It certainly wasn’t a nice sight to see in a well-conducted and fair match until the 94th minute.”
On Wednesday, Inter tweeted: “We are brothers and sisters of the world. Since 9 March 1908, this has been our story.
“We want to firmly reiterate that we stand united against racism and all forms of discrimination.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is sick of being a substitute for Premier League club Chelsea and wants to negotiate a pay cut so he can join La Liga powerhouse Barcelona again.
In the hopes that the Gabonese striker would assist them in scoring goals, Chelsea paid Barcelona £10 million last summer to sign Aubameyang.
However, since the former Arsenal captain moved to Stamford Bridge, he has been having trouble and has only managed to score three goals in 18 appearances this season across all competitions.
The 33-year-old has also been frozen out of Potter’s plan at Chelsea and he is not happy about the development.
According to the report on GOAL, Aubameyang is unhappy at Chelsea and is willing to accept a pay cut to head back to Barcelona in the summer.
Will Barcelona accept him back?
The report added that the Catalans are said to be considering a one-year loan option for Aubameyang.
Barcelona have also been linked to Athletico Paranaense forward Vitor Roque.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are in the race to sign new striker in the summer with Nigerian star Victor Osimhen said to be their main target.
The Blues will have to go into competition with Man United who are also interested.
🚨 Chelsea are set to RIP-UP Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's contract this summer.
Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how Chelsea and having striker problems now looks like an established curse after the majority of their previous number 9s have failed to make impacts at the club.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined the list of failed strikers at the club almost immediately after the club shipped out £97.5m striker Romelu Lukaku on loan to Inter Milan after falling out with former coach Thomas Tuchel.
The Gabonese was brought in to replace Lukaku, but his relationship with Tuchel lasted 59 minutes on the pitch before the German was shown the exit and replaced with Graham Potter.
Italian giants Inter Milan are interested in bringing him to his former stomping ground San Siro in the summer.
Chelsea seem to have resigned themselves to making a major loss on Romelu Lukaku, who has only netted five times on loan at Inter this term.
According to a Football Insider report, the Blues are ready to move him on in at the end of the season, with Inter unlikely to try to extend his stay in Milan.
Chelsea spent £97.5milion to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge in August 2021, but they are unlikely to get anywhere near that now.
TOP STORY – GERMAN CHAMPIONS LINE UP SHOCK LUKAKU MOVE
Bayern Munich are lining up a shock move for Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku to bolster their attacking options, claims Fichajes.
The report claims Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann is an admirer of the Belgium striker, who he believes is one of the world’s best forwards if injury free.
Bayern will not commence negotiations with Chelsea until the end of the season. The German champions had been linked with Harry Kane as they look for someone to replace Robert Lewandowski, who left for Barcelona last year.
Calciomercato reports that Chelsea may try to land a deal with Roma with a swap deal involving Tammy Abraham.
ROUND-UP
– 90min claims Manchester City have reignited their interest in signing 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz following a long-term knee injury which forced him to miss the 2022 World Cup. Fabrizio Romano claims Real Madrid will compete for the German’s services too.
– Tottenham are interested in Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson, reports ESPN. Henderson is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from United, who could use Spurs’ interest as leverage in a deal for Harry Kane, per the report
– Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto is drawing interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, while 90min claims Juventus and Napoli are among a list of Italian clubs tracking him too.
– Fabrizio Romano claims Barcelona on the cusp of agreeing to a deal with Athletic Bilbao centre-back Inigo Martinez to join the Blaugrana on a free transfer in the off-season.
– Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to let Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches exit amid interest from Milan along with Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Tottenham and Wolves, reports 90min.
– Football London reports Arsenal are ready to ramp up their interest in Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi with a bid to come in the coming months, although he has a €60m release clause in his contract.
As the second legs of theChampions League last 16 continue on Tuesday, there will be two closely contested matches.
Romelu Lukaku’s late goal gave Inter a slim 1-0 lead over Porto at San Siro going into the rematch in Portugal.
The Serie A giants, however, did not exactly practise well, falling to Estoril Praia 3-2 on the same day that Sergio Conceicao’s team defeated lowly Spezia 3-2 in a hard-fought victory.
Erling Haaland’s penalty helped Manchester City defeat Crystal Palace 1-0, and RB Leipzig, a Bundesliga team, moved up to third in the standings after defeating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-0.
After their 1-1 draw in the first leg in Germany, Pep Guardiola will be hoping that home advantage can keep the club’s dream alive of a first Champions League title.
We have picked out the standout Opta data to preview Tuesday’s games.
Having said that, Porto have lost four of their last six home matches in the knockout stages of the Champions League, conceding 13 goals across those four defeats.
They have, though, won each of their last four home matches in Europe against Italian clubs, beating Roma, Juventus, Milan and Lazio in succession. The last Italian side to defeat them away from home was Juventus in February 2017.
Inter have progressed from four of their five two-legged Champions League knockout ties when winning the first leg, only being eliminated from such a position in 2005-06 by Villarreal.
Porto have been eliminated from six of their seven two-legged Champions League knockout ties when losing the first leg, only progressing in 2018-19 against Roma.
Lukaku’s winning goal in the first leg meant he has scored eight goals in 12 appearances for Inter in the Champions League. His record of 111 minutes per goal is the best of any player to have scored five or more goals for the club in the European Cup/Champions League.
Manchester City v RB Leipzig
City are unbeaten across their last 23 home matches in the Champions League, winning 21. If they avoid defeat in this match, they will equal Arsenal’s record for the longest home unbeaten run by an English club in the competition (24 games between September 2004 and April 2009).
Leipzig are unbeaten in five matches in the Champions League (W4 D1), their longest unbeaten run in the competition since a seven-game stretch in 2019-20 when they reached the semi-final.
The last team to defeat City at the Etihad Stadium in a Champions League knockout stage match was Liverpool in the 2017-18 quarter-final second leg – visiting sides have avoided defeat just once in eight matches since.
Marco Rose has taken charge of three matches in the Champions League knockout stages, with all three coming against City, after his Monchengladbach side were eliminated by the club in the last 16 in 2020-21. The only previous instance of a head coach facing the same opponent in his first four Champions League knockout stage matches is Frank Rijkaard against Chelsea between 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Haaland has scored 17 goals in 11 home matches in the Champions League for Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and City, scoring at least two goals in seven of those games. The Norwegian has scored a goal every 49 minutes on average in these matches.
Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku has scored 10 goals across his last 12 starts in the Champions League, including a hat-trick against City at the Etihad Stadium in September 2021. Nkunku is one of two players to score a hat-trick against City in the competition, the other being Lionel Messi in October 2016.
Romelu Lukaku, who came on as a substitute and scored the game’s winning goal late, helped Inter escape Porto with a 1-0 victory at San Siro in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 matchup.
The team of Simone Inzaghi appeared to be destined for a disappointing goalless draw, which might have given Porto the upper hand going into the return match, but Lukaku saved Inter.
The Nerazzurri had been wasteful during a tense first half, with Lautaro Martinez spurning a great opportunity and Alessandro Bastoni forcing Diogo Costa into a brilliant save.
They then struggled to make the most of their dominance in the second half but shortly after Porto midfielder Otavio was sent off, Lukaku turned home to score for the second time in less than a week.
Martinez would have been frustrated to miss the target with an unchallenged header from Federico Dimarco’s 13th-minute cross.
That chance punctuated the largely dull early exchanges but the contest showed signs of life in the final eight minutes of the half.
Marko Grujic’s fierce strike hit Andre Onana’s knee and Galeno nodded the follow-up wide, before a remarkable reflex save from Costa kept Bastoni’s header out.
Inter then owed a debt of gratitude to Onana just before the hour. He made a fine save to deny Zaidu Sanusi and then somehow kept Mehdi Taremi’s rebound out on the line with the Iranian seemingly destined to score.
Otavio’s dismissal for a lunge on Hakan Calhanoglu 12 minutes from time gave Inter a numerical advantage, and they duly made the most of it.
Substitute Lukaku headed Nicolo Barella’s cross against the post but was on hand to slam the rebound beyond Costa.
What does it mean? Inter go to Portugal with something to protect
This certainly was not a classic and Inter were underwhelming for much of the game. There would have been few arguments about a draw being a fair result.
But Inter finished the match really well and deserve praise for getting the win over the line when they had previously looked unconvincing.
There was a flashpoint in the first half when Onana and Edin Dzeko appeared to be engaged in a heated argument. While it was unclear what that was about, there was little about the goalkeeper’s performance that could be criticised.
He made four saves in total, but among them were the fine block from Grujic’s piledriver and the double stop to deny Sanusi and Taremi in the second half, the latter essentially denying Porto a certain goal.
Otavio’s petulance proves costly
There was no doubt about the booking for his second yellow as Otavio caught Calhanoglu with a nasty challenge.
However, that would not have led to a red had he not made the bizarre decision to rile Inter in the first half. The hosts had put the ball out of play to allow a player to get medical treatment — when Porto restarted with a throw-in, Otavio started darting towards the Inter goal when he knew the protocol was to give possession back.
A melee ensued and he was booked — he must feel a little silly now.
Key Opta Facts
Inter have won consecutive games in the knockout stages of the Champions League without conceding a goal (1-0 v Liverpool in March 2022 and 1-0 v Porto) – only under Jose Mourinho in 2009-10 had they previously won consecutive knockout stage matches without conceding (a run of three).
Porto have failed to progress from six of their previous seven knockout ties in the Champions League when losing the first leg, with their only progression coming against Roma in the round of 16 in 2018-19.
Inter have won three consecutive home games in the Champions League for the first time since November 2010 in a run of seven, during which time they lifted the trophy in the 2009-10 campaign.
Lukaku’s strike was the first winning goal scored by a substitute for Inter in a Champions League game since Giampaolo Pazzini in March 2012 (v Marseille, also in the round of 16).
Otavio’s dismissal was the 22nd red card Porto have been shown in the Champions League, with only Juventus (27) having been handed more. Otavio was the first Portuguese player to be sent off for Porto in the Champions League since Secretario in March 2002 (v Panathinaikos).
Romelu Lukaku’s goal on Saturday helped Inter Milan defeat Udinese at the San Siro for the first time in 635 days.
The Belgian forward hasn’t been at his best since joining the Nerazzurri on loan from Chelsea in the summer of last year, but he’s been much sharper lately.
Although he scored from the penalty spot in the 3-1 victory, it may have given the powerhouse the confidence boost it needs to get back on track as Inter looks to close the gap on unstoppable leaders Napoli.
We highlight West London’s misunderstood man ahead of tonight’s Champions League matchup with Porto.
Comeback trail
Lukaku has dealt with a number of issues since his arrival back in Milan, but injuries have been his biggest hindrance in 2022-23.
In the current campaign, the 29-year-old has missed 92 days and 18 matches in all competitions thanks to a combination of hamstring, arm and knee issues.
And although he has struggled with niggles in the past, the 104-cap international has not been absent for as long as this before in his career — and it has had a profound impact on his form.
Saturday was only his second Serie A goal of the season, with his first coming on the opening weekend back in August.
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi said a few weeks ago that he is expecting a fully fit Lukaku back for their Champions League tie with Porto and it looks as though he may get his wish.
The ex-Premier League star has featured in seven of Inter’s last eight league matches and is starting to show signs of a return to his best.
Fighting for his place
Inter’s squad is full to the brim of incredible talent and Lukaku’s return does not guarantee him a spot in the starting XI.
Inzaghi has preferred to set up in a 3-5-2 for most of the season and, although the seasoned finisher is a big miss when unavailable, there were options waiting in the wings to replace him.
Both Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez have done a stellar job in Lukaku’s absence, netting 20 times between them in Serie A, while the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu have also been popping up with goals.
During his best season, Chelsea’s £97million man grabbed 24 goals and 10 assists in the Italian first division, yet scored only eight times in the Premier League during the 2021-22 campaign.
He would do well to displace either Dzeko or Martinez permanently in the coming weeks, though his best form would give him a fighting chance.
Lukaku’s ability to score in a variety of ways gives him the edge over his 36-year-old team-mate Dzeko, who is giving Olivier Giroud a run for his money as the best Serie A player over 35 this year.
Desperate to stay
Lukaku left Stamford Bridge with a sour taste in his mouth, publicly stating his desire to return to Supercoppa Italiana winners Inter last summer.
The San Siro is where he has enjoyed the best spell of his career and despite being a valued member of the Premier League 100 club, his style of play is more suited to Italian football.
However, his situation remains one of the most complicated in Europe’s top five leagues.
As Chelsea paid such a handsome fee to bring Lukaku back to his former club only 18 months ago, they will unquestionably want to recoup some of that fortune — especially after their own excessive spending in January.
With a contract at Stamford Bridge that runs until 2026, Lukaku needs to resolve his future quickly ahead to avoid a potential recall.
Romelu Lukaku underlined his plans to continue in Serie A after this season by saying, “I’ve always had Inter in my heart.”
After joining the Blues for £97.5 million, Lukaku scored just eight Premier League goals the previous season. He then returned to Inter on a season-long loan last June.
After suffering a thigh injury in August, the Belgian striker has missed the majority of this season. He also did not make a start at the World Cup after returning halfway through his nation’s disastrous group-stage campaign.
Despite enduring a frustrating second spell at San Siro, Lukaku is eager to make his Inter reunion permanent after being welcomed back by the Nerazzurri’s supporters.
“Inter fans are truly special; for me they’re the best I’ve met. Even if we are in trouble, they are always there to help the team,” Lukaku told Sky Sport.
“I thought they were still angry with me, but they know I’ve always had Inter in my heart, even if I left.
“I had a few conversations with my team-mates; I told them the truth about why I left and why I came back.
“I hope to stay in the future too. For me, Inter means everything. Now I have to do everything necessary, together with the team, for Inter to win. Then we’ll see.”
Wednesday’s pivotal matchup between Inter and Scudetto favorites Napoli will mark the start of their Serie A campaign. Simone Inzaghi’s fifth-place team is 11 points behind the league’s early leaders.
Lukaku insists Inter are still in the running to repeat as Scudetto winners despite Napoli’s big advantage at the top.
“As long as a team hasn’t lifted the trophy, anything is possible,” Lukaku said. “That’s the thing, anything is possible in football.
“Do I believe it? You have to believe in the impossible. People say it’s impossible for us, let’s see at the end of the season.
“Now, no one has raised it, we are still there and there are six months left. The championship ends on June 6, we are not yet on January 4!”
Romelu Lukaku has been included in Belgium’s 26-man squad for the Qatar World Cup, despite injury concerns.
Head coach Roberto Martinez warned that Lukaku had to prove his fitness for the group stage if he was to be named in the squad, which the striker appears to have done.
Belgium’s record goalscorer Lukaku, on loan at Inter from Chelsea, made his comeback from a hamstring injury, coming off the bench to score against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on October 26.
However, that is one of just two appearances the 29-year-old has managed since August, with his last game coming on October 29 against Sampdoria.
There is no place for another forward plying his trade in Serie A, with Milan’s Divock Origi left out, though his club team-mate Charles De Ketelaere does make it.
The Premier League has plenty of representation, with three players from Leicester City, including Youri Tielemans, along with Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, Brighton and Hove Albion’s in-form winger Leandro Trossard and midfielders from Everton and Aston Villa in the form of Amadou Onana and Leander Dendoncker.
Eden Hazard has started just two games for Real Madrid this season, but makes the cut among Martinez’s forwards, while club-mate Thibaut Courtois will be hoping for another fine tournament on an individual level, after he won the Golden Glove at Russia 2018.
Bryan Heynen, Alexis Saelemaekers, Dodi Lukebakio and Jason Denayer have been listed as standby players until the start of the tournament in the event of injuries.
This could be what has been dubbed the “golden generation” of Belgian football’s last chance to win a major tournament, with several of their star players now over or approaching the age of 30. They finished third in 2018, beating England in a play-off match after losing to eventual champions France in the semi-finals.
Belgium kick their tournament off against Canada on November 23, before playing Morocco and Croatia in their other Group F matches.
Belgium squad: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge); Toby Alderweireld (Royal Antwerp), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht); Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Borussia Dortmund); Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce), Charles De Ketelaere (Milan), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Romelu Lukaku (Inter), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Lois Openda (Lens), Leandro Trossard (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi has revealed that Romelu Lukaku will return from injury when Inter host Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League next Wednesday.
With Inter bidding to secure qualification for the Champions League round of 16 next week, Inzaghi is keen to get Lukaku back.
However, he will not feature at Fiorentina in Serie A on Saturday.
“He has been training partially in a group for two days. He has to regain his condition, but he is very motivated,” Inter head coach Inzaghi said. “Finally, after a very long time, he has overcome the injury.
“He will not be with us tomorrow in Florence, [but] we try to bring him back on Wednesday. He has to find his condition, but after seeing him work, I am confident.”
Lukaku scored 24 goals as Inter won the Serie A title in the 2020-2 season, and was expected to play a key role in another tilt at the Scudetto after returning on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
However, a thigh injury has kept Lukaku sidelined since August, with the Belgium striker’s recovery taking longer than was initially expected.
Inter finished just two points behind rivals Milan at the culmination of the Scudetto battle last season, but are already eight points adrift of leaders Napoli this campaign.
Asked whether Inter could still play a part in the title race, Inzaghi added: “Now we have to look at the calendar, to be realistic.
“There is a gap and they are racing ahead, now the goal is to recover points in the league and go through in the Champions League.
“What matters most is to think game-by-game, now there are so many games missing until the [World Cup] break, and we have to get there in the best possible way.”
Inter have won on their last two Serie A trips to Fiorentina; only once in their history have they won three successive away league games against the Viola (between 1977 and 1980).
Meanwhile, the Nerazzurri are unbeaten in their last 10 league meetings with Fiorentina (W5 D5), having lost five of their previous six games against them (W1).
Romelu Lukaku has returned to Inter Milan on a season-long loan, just a year after leaving for Chelsea.
Chelsea paid Inter a club-record £97.5m for Lukaku, 29, last summer but, before Christmas, he said he was “not happy” and hoped to rejoin the Italian side.
Inter have agreed to pay a loan fee of about 8m euros (£6.9m) for Lukaku, who helped them win Serie A in 2020-21.
The Belgium striker was not a regular starter for Chelsea last season but scored 15 goals in all competitions.
It is understood Lukaku was willing to take a pay cut to seal a move back to Inter, but the club’s financial situation meant it was impossible for them to match his wages or buy the forward outright.
However, president Steven Zhang got involved personally in the negotiations last week, which was viewed as significant.
“I’m back baby,” Lukaku said in a video on Inter’s Twitter page.
“I am very happy.” Zhang added: “The big boss is back. It is like deja vu, coming back here again.”
In an interview with Inter TV, Lukaku said it was “like coming home” and he had been in contact with his new coach Simone Inzaghi “all last season”.
“Inter have given me so much and I hope now to do even better than before,” said the frontman, who scored 64 goals in 95 appearances during his first spell in Italy.
“I didn’t even leave my home when I went to England, which shows how happy I am to be back here.”
Asked what convinced him to return, Lukaku added: “The affection of the fans and my team-mates, but also the opportunity to work with the coach. I stayed in contact with him all last season.”
Lukaku, who left Chelsea to join Everton for £28m in 2014, returned to Stamford Bridge last summer on a five-year deal.
But after spells out with injury and illness, he was left out of the starting line-up and, in an interview with Sky Sport Italia, said he was not happy with his role under manager Thomas Tuchel.
After apologising for those comments, Lukaku returned to the Chelsea squad and scored only three times in his final 15 Premier League games of last term as the Blues’ season fizzled out.
Tuchel’s side finished third in the Premier League, while they were beaten by Liverpool on penalties in both the FA Cup and League Cup finals.
Inter finished second in Serie A last season, two points behind city rivals AC Milan. They are also in talks with Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.
The Argentina international, 28, is set to be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the month.
Italian club Inter Milan have agreed a deal to sign striker Romelu Lukaku on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
The Blues signed the 29-year-old from Inter for £97.5m in August 2021, but he will return to the Serie A side having struggled last season.
The loan fee for Lukaku is about 8m euros (£6.9m).
The Belgium international scored 15 goals in all competitions for Chelsea last season, with eight in 26 Premier League appearances.
It is understood Lukaku was willing to take a pay cut to rejoin Inter, who won the Serie A title in 2020-21 with him leading their attack.
The Italian club’s financial situation meant it was impossible for them to match Lukaku’s wages or buy the frontman outright.
However, president Steven Zhang got involved personally in the negotiations on Monday, which was viewed as significant.
Lukaku, who left Chelsea to join Everton for £28m in 2014, returned to the Stamford Bridge side last summer on a five-year deal for a club-record fee.
However, he apologised for an interview during the season where he said he was not happy with his role under Blues manager Thomas Tuchel and wanted to return to the Italian club in the near future.
Lukaku scored only three times in his final 15 top-flight outings of the season as Chelsea’s season fizzled out.
Tuchel’s side finished third in the Premier League, while they were beaten by Liverpool on penalties in both the FA Cup and League Cup finals.
Inter finished second in Serie A last season, two points behind city rivals AC Milan. They are also in talks with Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.
The Argentina international, 28, is set to be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the month.
Inter Milan chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has said they are in talks to sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku and Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.
BBC Sport has reported Lukaku, would take a pay cut to rejoin Inter on loan, after his £97.5m move last summer.
“Lukaku and Dybala are our targets,” Marotta told Radio Rai.
He added the club have deals in place to sign Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana from Ajax.
Of the bids for Lukaku and Dybala, Marotta added: “We need to consider financial issues. We are in talks with these two players and we’ll be happy if we sign them. If not, we’ll consider different targets.”
Inter president Steven Zhang has stepped in to try to sort out Lukaku’s return to the club, according to BBC Sport’s Simon Stone.
The Serie A side do not have the finances to engineer a permanent deal and have been struggling to meet the loan fee Chelsea want for the 29-year-old.
Zhang has been meeting with coach Simone Inzaghi to put together a deal Chelsea would find acceptable.
Belgium international Lukaku scored 15 goals in all competitions for the Blues last season, with eight in 26 Premier League appearances.
He apologised for an interview during the season where he said he was not happy with his role under manager Thomas Tuchel and wanted to return to Inter in the near future.
Lukaku, who left Chelsea to join Everton for £28m in 2014, returned to the Stamford Bridge side for a club-record fee in August 2021, agreeing to a five-year deal.
Argentina international Dybala, 28, is set to be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the month.
Armenian midfielder Mkhitaryan, 33, helped Jose Mourinho’s Roma win their first European trophy last season, the Europa Conference League.
Onana, 26, has won three Dutch titles with Ajax but received a Uefa ban for a doping rules violation last year. He is also a free agent.
“Mkhitaryan will be official in the next few days, the same goes for Onana,” added Marotta.
“We are evaluating a bit of everything, also players from the youth team who became Italy champions. We know that we must wait for young players and build a strong team.”
Inter finished second in Serie A last season, two points behind city rivals AC Milan.
