Chelsea have agreed all the terms that will see them send Romelu Lukaku on loan to Serie A side AS Roma for the 2023-24 season, according to a Belgian reporter.
Finding a new club for Lukaku has been a burden for Chelsea all summer after he returned from a loan spell back at Inter. Recently, Roma emerged as the leading candidates to sign him after Chelsea opened up to the idea of loaning him out again.
Negotiations have been ongoing in recent days for how to make the temporary switch viable for all parties after it became Lukaku’s own preference. And now, Sacha Tavolieri has revealed that Chelsea and Roma have come to an agreement.
In terms of wages, Lukaku will earn a net salary of €7m (approximately £115,000 per week) plus bonuses. It will be less than what Chelsea have been paying him, but has become an acceptable compromise.
Lukaku is currently in Belgium, but Tavolieri has claimed he could fly to Rome tonight (Sunday) to seal the move if all goes to plan. For now, he is waiting for the final green light from Chelsea.
It has also been clarified that there will be no obligation for Roma to buy Lukaku at the end of his loan spell at Stadio Olimpico.
Mourinho pushing for Lukaku reunion
Once he completes his move to Roma, Lukaku will reunite with his former Chelsea and Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho. During their time working together before, Lukaku scored 33 goals from 76 appearances.
His form skyrocketed after leaving Man Utd for Inter, who sold him back to Chelsea after two seasons. However, Lukaku never recaptured that rate of scoring at Stamford Bridge.
Thus, they lent him back to Inter last season, but he burned his bridges there after trying to sign for their rivals Juventus instead. Now, a move to Roma has become by far the most feasible option for the 30-year-old.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Mourinho has held various rounds of talks with Lukaku and has been pushing to welcome him to the Italian capital.
Roma have been searching for cover for the injured ex-Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, as well as an upgrade on Andrea Belotti after he failed to score in Serie A last season.
Sardar Azmoun has joined them from Bayer Leverkusen on loan to tick one box, but Lukaku would be the marquee signing they have been dreaming of up front.
His contract at Chelsea for after his loan spell remains valid until 2026, although Chelsea would seemingly prefer to move forward with other attackers.
