Romelu Lukaku Undergoes Medical Ahead Of Chelsea Move
Belgium International and Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku is undergoing the first part of his Chelsea medical in Italy after the club agreed in principle a club-record deal worth £97.5m to re-sign the striker.
The medical is taking place in Milan, while the paperwork is now with club lawyers, and once that is formalised Lukaku is expected to sign a five-year contract.
Lukaku, 28, scored 24 goals in Serie A last season, leading Inter Milan to its first Scudetto title in 11 years as the club put an end to Juventus’ nine-year reign as Italian champions.
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel was reluctant to admit a deal for Lukaku was close, but stressed the No 9 role is an area the club are looking to strengthen after Olivier Giroud left the club to join Italian giants AC Milan.
“We lost Olivier Giroud who played a crucial role in the club,” Tuchel said in an interview. “He was the kind of profile who likes to play with his back to goal, who likes to hold up balls, who creates space for Werner, Havertz, Pulisic; who is ready to fight physically with defenders.”
“This is the kind of profile that we don’t have in our squad right now and that we are looking for. It’s still not the moment to talk about names because we have nobody signed yet and we will show all the respect to other clubs.”
“Romelu is one of the guys like Haaland at Dortmund, Lewandowski at Bayern, Harry Kane at Tottenham, who is a real No 9 who loves to score and who has a presence in the box. That is not a secret,” Tuchel added.
Lukaku’s brilliance during the chase for the Italian Serie A last season persuaded Chelsea to bring him back to Stamford Bridge one decade on from signing his first contract at the club. But this time, Lukaku, returns as an improved player at the peak of his powers.
Chidi Nwoke/SkySports.
