Romelu Lukaku has reportedly agreed personal terms with Juventus ahead of a Chelsea exit this summer.
Lukaku spent last season on loan at Inter Milan and was eager to sign on permanently ahead of this season, but the Champions League finalists were unwilling to pay Chelsea’s asking price.
Serie A rivals Juventus have since entered talks to sign Lukaku – and have now reached an agreement with the 30-year-old over a three-year deal, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
Juventus hope to land Lukaku as part of a swap deal which would see out-of-favour striker Dusan Vlahovic go the opposite way. However, the Old Lady want £35million in addition to Lukaku in return.
As it stands, Juventus can only muster up an offer of a season-long loan deal with an option to buy – which is unlikely to cut it in Chelsea’s eyes. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea judge Vlahovic as an essential signing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
New manager Mauricio Pochettino’s position is understood to be crucial in the decision-making process as he considers Serbian international Vlahovic’s usefulness to the Stamford Bridge side.
Pochettino recently confirmed the west Londoners were trying to move Lukaku on, saying: “It is the club and of course it is an interesting situation.
“When this type of decision is [made, it is] because they all agree. The player and club are working hard to try and find the best solution.’
