Former Inter Milan star Antonio Cassano has urged his old club not to pursue a deal to bring Romelu Lukaku back to the San Siro this summer. football.london understands Lukaku wants to leave Chelsea this transfer window despite re-joining the west London club less than 12 months ago.
The 29-year-old signed for Chelsea for a club record £97.5million fee in August of last year, but failed to set the Premier League alight over the 2021/22 campaign. Lukaku scored just eight goals in the top-flight and looked somewhat out of place in Thomas Tuchel's system.
So, it comes as no great shock that the Belgium international is already looking for a route out of Chelsea. Inter are said to be Lukaku's preferred destination, but the Italian club cannot afford his £325,000-a-week wages.
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A loan move looks more likely than a permanent deal. If Inter were to be Lukaku's next club, then the reality is that Chelsea may need to pay a large sum of their striker's wages.
With Paulo Dybala looking increasingly likely to join Inter, Cassano pointed out that bringing Lukaku in on top of that points towards Lautaro Martinez leaving the San Siro. In typical brutal style, the outspoken Italian said on his Bobo TV stream: "I wouldn't take him [Lukaku] back.
"He said he was going to his dream team, earning €15 million. Now, however, in London he doesn't kick a ball and would like to return to Italy.
"Also, because first of all you have to pay for him, but then you have to see the reaction of the fans: if he scores two goals per game, okay, but otherwise the situation becomes quite difficult. Lukaku has to think about it. At this point, I say he stays at Chelsea."
Despite ongoing speculation over Lukaku's future, Chelsea advisor Petr Cech recently hinted that the striker will remain at Stamford Bridge next season. Cech said to Sky Sports News: "I personally believe he will have a great season because last season we seen how strong he can be at the beginning when he came.
"Unfortunately, the long-term injury he sustained against Villa slowed everything down, and then he had COVID as well. We could see towards the end of the season when he was fit and ready to go again how strong he is.
"We had a particular season as a team around Christmas with COVID issues, he was one of those players affected. I have full confidence he will bounce back and have a strong season."
