August 28, (THEWILL) – Romelu Lukaku is close to securing a loan move away from Chelsea to Serie A side AS Roma, according to reports monitored by THEWILL.
The Belgian striker has reportedly agreed to a significant wage cut in order to push the deal through before the end of the transfer window on Thursday. Lukaku struggled to settle back into life at Chelsea since his £97.5m move from Inter Milan last summer. After failing to find a permanent buyer, Chelsea have decided to sanction another loan move for the 29-year-old.
Roma emerged as front-runners for Lukaku’s signature, but his wages proved a stumbling block. However, he has now agreed to lower his salary by almost a third. This would bring him in line with Roma’s pay structure and remove the financial obstacles blocking the deal. Chelsea are also requesting a sizeable loan fee, believed to be around £9m.
Roma have so far only offered closer to £4.5m due to Financial Fair Play limitations. The two clubs remain confident an agreement can be reached before the window shuts on 1st September. Lukaku’s impending exit also impacts Chelsea’s remaining business, as he would take up one of only two loan spots left for overseas players. It means the Blues may have to rethink other temporary deals for fringe players.
Both parties are motivated to push through Lukaku’s return to Italy. After his move turned sour, a loan could give Lukaku the chance to rebuild his form and confidence. For Chelsea, it would shift a disruptive influence and make space for new attacking options suited to Mauricio Pochettino’s style.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
