CHELSEA are lining up a sensational transfer for Romelu Lukaku, according to reports.
But they would need to stump up a British-record £100million to convince Inter Milan to sell.
The Blues sold the Belgian to Everton in 2014 for £28m before he joined Manchester United three years later then headed to Italy in 2019.
Since arriving at the San Siro, Lukaku has banged in 64 goals in 95 appearances and fired the club to their first Serie A title in 11 years.
However, Thomas Tuchel is desperate to bolster his squad this summer to mount a serious Premier League challenge.
And one area he wants improvement is up front – especially with Timo Werner misfiring in his first season leading the line, Tammy Abraham unfavoured and Olivier Giroud turning 35 in September.
In fact, in 30 games in charge, Tuchel’s Chelsea have scored more than two goals in a game just once – a 4-1 win at Crystal Palace in April.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea have identified Lukaku as a more plausible transfer option ahead of Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
Both strikers are linked with moves this summer but Spurs chief Daniel Levy will be determined not to sell to the Blues while Haaland is wanted by a host of top clubs.
Managerless Inter Milan are in financial disarray and therefore, despite winning the league, could be open to doing business at the right price.
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Asked about potential incomings in the transfer market, Tuchel said: “Two or three could be very, very good. It’s a constant thing to never deny change.
“Then you always bring new energy, new guys who question the old beliefs, who challenge everybody in the training and in matches. I think it’s a good thing.
“We don’t need a complete turnover because it’s also our job to keep on improving.
“We have still a young squad that is capable of growing and evolving but we have some ideas, of course, to make the group stronger.”
Lukaku joined Chelsea as an 18-year-old in 2011 but he made just 15 appearances in total, including one Premier League start – and failed to find the net.
He enjoyed successful loan spells at West Brom and Everton in 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively before making the Goodison Park switch permanent.
The striker is now in his prime at 28 and considered one of the best No9s in the world.
And he will be looking to spearhead Belgium to international glory at this summer’s Euros with a transfer unlikely to get arranged before the tournament kicks off.
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