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Roma chiefs 'heading to London for Romelu Lukaku talks with Chelsea'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 25 August 2023

Roma chiefs 'heading to London for Lukaku talks with Chelsea'

Roma president Dan Friedkin and director Tiago Pinto travel to London to hold Romelu Lukaku talks with Chelsea, according to a report.

Roma president Dan Friedkin and director Tiago Pinto will reportedly be at Stamford Bridge on Friday evening to hold talks with Chelsea over a possible loan deal for Romelu Lukaku.

The Blues will be bidding to secure their first victory of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign when they welcome newly-promoted Luton Town.

According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Friedkin and Pinto will be present at the famous stadium, with the pair set to meet with Chelsea officials in the hope of agreeing a deal for Lukaku.

Chelsea have allegedly changed their mind when it comes to the Belgium international, with the club now said to be willing to discuss a loan exit.

Potential moves to the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus have broken down, while it is understood that the forward wants to remain in European football amid lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia.

Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku during Croatia game at World Cup on December 1, 2022. © Reuters

The 30-year-old has allegedly already spoken to Roma head coach Jose Mourinho over a move to the Italian giants this summer, with the club bidding to bring in another forward.

Roma have secured a loan deal for Bayer Leverkusen's Sardar Azmoun, but Mourinho has said that the club are working on a further addition in the final third of the field.

"When the director proposed Azmoun to me, he told me that another one is coming. If the other is a quality striker... [Andrea] Belotti, Azmoun and another, we have good options in attack. I'm quietly waiting," Mourinho told reporters during a press conference on Friday.

Chelsea are thought to either want a significant fee to loan out Lukaku, or for the deal to include an obligation to buy at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku reacts in August 2022 © Reuters

The striker's future at Chelsea was addressed by Blues head coach Mauricio Pochettino on Thursday.

Pochettino said that "nothing has changed" regarding the situation, with Lukaku not being handed a squad member for the 2023-24 campaign, as he is not in the club's plans.

The Belgian had initially been expected to return to Inter, potentially on a permanent deal, but the San Siro giants are believed to have dropped their pursuit after learning that he was also speaking to Juventus.

Lukaku only managed to score 15 goals for Chelsea during the 2021-22 campaign following a big-money return to the club, while he netted 14 times in 37 appearances for Inter while on loan last season.

The 2020-21 Serie A winner has a strong record in Italy's top flight, though, netting 57 goals and registering 18 assists in 97 appearances in the competition.