Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly set to stay at Inter Milan on loan next season before completing a permanent return to the Serie A side in 2024.
The Belgium international was lured back to Stamford Bridge for a £97.5m fee in the summer of 2021, but he made a rod for his own back within a few months of rejoining.
Lukaku admitted his frustrations with Thomas Tuchel's system to Italian media and claimed that he was pining for a return to Italy, which saw Tuchel cut him from the first XI.
The ex-Manchester United man would make fleeting starts throughout the season, and he ended the 2021-22 campaign with 15 goals and two assists from 44 outings in all competitions.
Eight of Lukaku's goals came in 26 Premier League appearances, although he only started 16 of those games and returned to Inter on loan over the summer.
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The Nerazzurri's financial difficulties made it impossible for Lukaku to return permanently, and he only scored one goal in three appearances before suffering a serious muscular injury.
Lukaku is currently due to return to Chelsea at the end of the season, and his Stamford Bridge deal runs until 2026, but he could soon make a permanent exit from the Blues for a second time.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 29-year-old is poised to remain on loan at Simone Inzaghi's side for the 2023-24 season, and the two clubs have also agreed an unspecified transfer fee.
Chelsea are said to be willing to take a significant financial hit on Lukaku, although injuries or further economic difficulties for the San Siro club could still put a spanner in the works.
The report adds that rapper Jay-Z has been heavily involved in the saga surrounding Lukaku, as the 52-year-old has a close relationship with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly.
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Jay-Z is also in charge of Roc Nation agency, which represents the striker, and he supposedly believes that the best solution for all parties would be for Lukaku to stay in Italy.
The ex-Everton striker initially joined the Nerazzurri from Man United in the summer of 2019 and contributed 24 goals for the club in their title-winning 2020-21 season under Antonio Conte.
Lukaku has totalled 65 goals and 17 assists in 98 appearances for Inter across all competitions, and he is said to still be held in high regard by those in Milan given his title-winning exploits.
Meanwhile, he has registered 15 goals and three assists in his 59 Chelsea appearances, having ended his first spell in the English capital without scoring in 15 matches.
A date for Lukaku's return from injury has not been pencilled in, but Inter will be without the Belgian when they travel to Fiorentina on Saturday.
Ben Knapton
