Italian giants AC Milan have reportedly rejected the chance to sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku this summer having already found an alternative. The current Serie A leaders have been linked with a move for the Belgian striker following his slow start to life back at Stamford Bridge.
After returning to west London in a club record £97.5million deal from Inter Milan, he has struggled to hit the heights expected of him. He has just 12 goals in all competitions - only five of those coming in the Premier League - whilst Kai Havertz has regularly been preferred to lead the line under Thomas Tuchel in recent months.
A number of contenders for his services have already been mentioned. Former club Inter have consistently been linked, with Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan also reportedly interested. The latter though appear to have made a definitive decision on a summer move.
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According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian giants are not interested in Lukaku, having instead chosen to pursue his international teammate Divock Origi. As per the reports, Milan are waiting for the "right moment" to "define the agreements" with the Liverpool striker.
Any completed deal would see Origi bring to an end his eight-year spell as a Reds player, and would also make any deal for Lukaku highly unlikely. It of course remains to be seen whether that sees him stay at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer transfer window.
The Belgian has four years remaining on his contract in west London but has already suggested that he is eyeing a return to Italy in the future.
Speaking in December, he said: "Now I think it’s right to speak, because I said that I will always have Inter in my heart and I genuinely hope to one day go back to play there. I am in love with Italy, this is the time to let people know what really happened, without bad-mouthing anyone, because that’s not my style.
"Now it’s the right time to share my feelings. I have always said that I have Inter in my heart: I know I will return to Inter, I really hope so. I am in love with Italy, this is right moment to talk and let people know what really happened."
