Inter Milan are reportedly becoming increasingly confident of striking a loan deal with Chelsea for the return of Romelu Lukaku.
The 29-year-old scored 64 goals across two seasons with Inter between 2019 and 2021 before re-joining Chelsea last summer, with the Blues paying £97.5m to bring him back to Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku found it difficult to make his mark during the 2021-22 campaign, though, managing only 15 goals and two assists in 44 appearances, with just eight of those strikes coming in the Premier League.
The Belgium international still has more than five years left to run on his agreement at Chelsea, but there has been intense speculation surrounding his future over the last few months.
Lukaku is said to be determined to secure a return to Inter this summer, and the Italian giants have allegedly recently been in discussions with the Premier League club over a potential deal.
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A recent report claimed that Inter were preparing to cool their efforts to re-sign the Belgian, having become frustrated with the negotiations with Chelsea.
However, according to Sky Sports News, the San Siro giants are now confident that they will be able to agree a deal that would see the striker return to the club on loan for the 2022-23 campaign.
The report claims that Inter and Chelsea held further talks on Wednesday, although there is still a €5m (£4.3m) gap between the two parties in terms of the loan fee, as the Blues want €10m (£8.6m).
Towards the end of last year, Lukaku gave a controversial interview to Sky Italia, revealing that he was unhappy with the Blues and already looking to return to San Siro.
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"Physically I am fine. But I'm not happy with the situation at Chelsea. Tuchel has chosen to play with another system - I won't give up, I'll be professional. I am not happy with the situation but I am professional - and I can't give up now," Lukaku told Sky Italia.
"I think everything that happened last summer was not supposed to happen like this... how I left Inter, the way I left the club, how I communicated with Inter fans - this bothers me because it was not the right time.
"Now it's the right time to share my feelings. I have always said that I have Inter in my heart: I know I will return to Inter, I really hope so. I am in love with Italy, this is the right moment to talk and let people know what really happened.
"I really hope from the bottom of my heart to return to Inter not at the end of my career, but when I'm still at top level to win more together. I want to apologise to the Inter fan, the timing of my words was wrong: what you did for me will remain forever."
Lukaku played a leading role in Inter winning the 2020-21 Serie A title, while he also provided 16 assists in 95 appearances for the Italian giants, in addition to 64 goals.
A number of other clubs are also said to be keeping a close eye on developments, but the former Anderlecht youngster has allegedly told Chelsea that he only wants to return to Inter.
Matt Law
