£97.5m star gets Chelsea to push back return date as Italian side ponder £40m deal

Chelsea have decided to push back Romelu Lukaku’s return date after it become clear that he would not be part of Mauricio Pochettino’s team this season.

The striker is determined to return to Inter Milan, ironically the same club Chelsea broke their transfer record to sign him in 2021, but the deal has since been a nightmare for the Blues with the striker determined to leave permanently this summer.

Sources had indicated that Luaku was not intending to return to the club on Wednesday as initially advertised but the club’s decision to extend his holiday give him time to only turn up once the core group had left for the United for the second phase of their pre-season.

Lukaku is part of a group of players who are out of favour at Chelsea and looking for a way out of the including Christian Pulisic, Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng and Hakim Ziyech.

The move allows Pochettino the space to fine-tune his team having taken over the side this summer after what has been one of the most disappointing campaigns in the club’s history in recent times.

The Belgian forward has interest from Juventus and Saudi Arabia but it is Inter Milan that has got his heart and LondonWorld understand that he’s willing to go as far as losing £1million if that will help make the deal happen.

Last season he recovered from injuries and a disappointing World Cup campaign to help the team reach the final of the Champions League.

Inter Milan saw an initial bid in the region of £30million rejected with Chelsea looking for at least £40million for the striker. His new return date is next Monday.