Chelsea have reached an agreement with Aston Villa to sign Romelu Lukaku, but the Belgian striker’s future remains uncertain as he holds out for a move to Napoli. According to Italian outlet Il Mattino, Lukaku has given his word to Napoli boss Antonio Conte and is unwilling to join Villa Park, despite Chelsea’s eagerness to offload him.
The 31-year-old’s future has been a concern for Chelsea for the third consecutive summer, with the Blues keen to move him on permanently and remove his eye-watering £325,000-per-week wages from their books. Lukaku returned to Stamford Bridge this summer after two unsuccessful loan spells in Serie A with Inter Milan and AS Roma, neither of which resulted in a permanent deal.
Chelsea’s new head coach, Enzo Maresca, has made it clear that Lukaku is not part of his plans, and the club is now actively seeking a buyer for the Belgian international. Aston Villa have agreed to take Lukaku off Chelsea’s hands, but the player’s heart is set on a reunion with Conte at Napoli.
Lukaku’s success under Conte at Inter Milan, where they won the Scudetto together, is well-documented, and it’s clear why he’s hesitant to join Villa. The Belgian striker scored prolifically under Conte’s guidance, and the pair’s partnership was instrumental in Inter’s title triumph.
However, Napoli’s interest in Lukaku is contingent on the sale of Victor Osimhen, whose future in Naples has been uncertain since the start of the summer. Until Osimhen departs, Napoli cannot afford to take on Lukaku’s significant wages and transfer fee. Chelsea, on the other hand, is growing impatient and wants Lukaku to accept the Villa deal rather than waiting for a move that may never materialize.
The Blues are keen to recoup some of the £97.5 million they spent to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge in 2021 and are unwilling to let him leave on another loan deal. A swap deal involving Lukaku and Osimhen has been mooted, but it’s a complicated transaction that may not come to fruition.
As the situation unfolds, Chelsea finds itself in a difficult position. The club wants to offload Lukaku’s wages and bring stability to its wage bill, but the player’s reluctance to join Villa has created a stalemate. Napoli’s interest in Lukaku is genuine, but their inability to move Osimhen has put the brakes on any potential deal.
In the meantime, Aston Villa waits patiently, hoping to secure a deal for a player who would undoubtedly strengthen their squad. However, Lukaku’s heart is set on Napoli, and it remains to be seen whether Chelsea can persuade him to accept the Villa deal or if Napoli can find a way to make the move happen.
The next few days will be crucial in determining Lukaku’s future, with Chelsea eager to resolve the situation and move on from a player who has become a burden on their wage bill. As the transfer window enters its final weeks, the drama surrounding Lukaku’s future continues to unfold, leaving Chelsea, Napoli, and Aston Villa in a state of flux.