Chelsea planning second Romelu Lukaku transfer bid after £85m offer rejected

Tuchel comments on Zouma's Chelsea future amid West Ham links

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Chelsea are set to make a second bid to re-sign Romelu Lukaku after seeing their first offer rejected, according to reports. Chelsea are claimed to have seen a bid of around £85million plus Marcos Alonso turned down by Inter Milan. Inter are keen on keeping Lukaku despite the club’s owners wanting to raise money through player sales.

Chelsea are in the market for a striker this summer following the departure of Olivier Giroud.

Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland is their top target but a deal appears extremely difficult in this window.

Dortmund are not prepared to sell Haaland and Chelsea have therefore looked at alternative options.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says he has had it confirmed that Inter have rejected an offer from the Blues for Lukaku.

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But Chelsea are not set to take that as a final answer and Inter are expecting a second offer for the Belgium international.

Romano tweeted: “Chelsea formal bid for Romelu Lukaku has been confirmed by CFC sources too. €100m guaranteed and Marcos Alonso, turned down as Inter want to keep Lukaku. #CFC

“Inter expect Chelsea to try again for Lukaku. He’s currently under contract until 2024 – €7.5m net per season.”

Lukaku has excelled at Inter since leaving Manchester United in 2019.

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He has scored 64 goals in 95 appearances for the Italian side and helped them win their first Serie A title in 10 years last season.

Lukaku failed to score in his first spell at Chelsea but proved his ability in the Premier League at both Everton and United.

However, former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has advised his former club to not pursue Lukaku.

Burley says the Stamford Bridge club should go all out to sign Haaland and only sign a cheap alternative if that deal is not possible.

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Burley told ESPN FC: “I think if you’re Chelsea and you’re gung-ho to get Haaland and you don’t think you can pull it off this year, but possibly do it in 12 months time, I think I bide my time and I go out and maybe buy a shorter-term option who is cheaper.

“I’m not suggesting [him], but Tottenham are looking at Danny Ings who has got a goal every two games at Southampton.

“Somebody who can just stick the ball in the back of the net for you short term and will guarantee you off the bench or starting some goals, and wait and bide your time.

“Rather than going splashing your money on somebody like Lukaku, who’s scored a lot of goals but clearly is not on their radar as a first-choice striker.”

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