Unwanted Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly on the verge of finally sealing his long-awaited Blues exit, as Napoli have verbally agreed a deal for the Belgium international.
Lukaku's £97.5m return to Stamford Bridge in 2021 has not worked out as intended for either party, and the striker's desire to depart became apparent just a few months into his West London comeback.
The former Manchester United attacker revealed shortly after joining that he wished to go back to Italy and was frustrated with Thomas Tuchel's system, and he has since been loaned back to Serie A on two occasions.
Following moderate success with Inter Milan and Roma during two temporary spells, Lukaku has long been tipped to return to the Italian top flight with Napoli, who are now under the wing of Antonio Conte.
The ex-Blues and Tottenham Hotspur boss forged an excellent relationship with Lukaku during their time at Inter, and he quickly made it his mission to reunite with the 31-year-old after taking the reins in Naples.
© Imago
Chelsea 'to receive up to £38.2m' for Lukaku sale
Following a lengthy period of negotiations, Fabrizio Romano reports that Napoli have now come to a verbal accord with Chelsea over a deal for Lukaku, who could end up costing the Italian side €45m (£38.2m) in total.
The Blues will only receive a guaranteed €30m (£25.5m) for the Belgium international, with another €15m (£12.7m) available through performance-related add-ons, and Lukaku will sign a three-year deal with Napoli.
Lukaku's permanent switch to Conte's side brings an end to a forgettable second spell with Chelsea, whom he initially left in 2014 after failing to net a single goal in his first 15 matches for the West London club.
Three years after his return, Lukaku heads for the Stamford Bridge exit door for a second time after registering 15 goals and two assists in 59 games for the Blues, who could make a mammoth loss of over £70m on him.
The striker had been training away from the main group at Chelsea following the arrival of new head coach Enzo Maresca, alongside fellow outcasts such as Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah and Raheem Sterling.
Lukaku exit to accelerate Victor Osimhen pursuit?
🚨🔵 Romelu Lukaku to Napoli, here we go! Verbal agreement in place between clubs.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 23, 2024
Chelsea accept €30m fixed fee plus add-ons up to €15m for €45m potential package.
Permanent transfer brokered by Ali Barat for Epic Sports.
Lukaku will sign 3 year deal at Napoli until 2027. pic.twitter.com/Hc0pm21qZl
As Lukaku clears out his Chelsea locker for the final time, questions will naturally arise regarding what the Belgian's switch to Napoli means for Chelsea's pursuit of current Partenopei marksman Victor Osimhen.
Earlier in the window, a part-exchange deal between the two clubs seemed to be the way forward given their interest in the respective strikers, and there were rumours that the Blues could also throw Cesare Casadei into the mix.
However, Lukaku will seemingly be joining Napoli in his own deal without the inclusion of Osimhen, whom Chelsea will therefore need to agree a separate financial or player-plus-cash deal for.
Osimhen's exit from Naples had been held up by the Lukaku negotiations, but there is ostensibly nothing standing in the Nigerian's way of moving on now, unless an unforeseen complication arises in the Lukaku deal.
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis is thought to still be holding out for €100m (£84.8m) to sell Osimhen, though, so do not be surprised to see that transfer go right down to the wire.
Ben Knapton
