Arsenal could hand Chelsea £38m FFP boost as Serie A giants ready offer for £98m flop

Chelsea FC could be set for a most desired payday with AC Milan said to have begun talks over signing Romelu Lukaku this summer.

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio and CalcioMercato, Milan officials have set up a meeting to discuss the possibility of the Belgian star moving to the San Siro, following a loan spell with Roma. Taking to X, Di Marzio said: “New contact with Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku and schedule meeting with his entourage” (post translated from Italian).

The report does, however, state that Lukaku would be the back-up option for Milan if they are unable to complete the signing of Arsenal target Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna. It’s said that Milan have agreed personal terms and are ready to pay Zirkzee’s €40 (£34m) release clause but the move remains at a standstill, with the Rossoneri said to be refusing to pay the Dutchman’s agent’s requested €15m (£12m) commission demands.

The Serie A side have subsequently been looking elsewhere with the Chelsea striker earmarked as a back-up. The 31-year-old is not said to be in Chelsea’s plans for the next season, but a move to AC Milan would send shock waves in Italian football with the striker having spent two spells at the club’s local rivals Inter, winning a Scudetto and reaching the Champions League final during his time there.

Napoli manager and former Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte is said to be hopeful of a reunion with Lukaku - with the pair having won the Scudetto together at Inter. Lukaku is reportedly Conte’s number one choice to replace Victor Osimhen who is highly likely to be sold this summer, despite the £110m fee.

Chelsea have set a £38m asking price for the Belgian international with many Serie A clubs believing this figure to be too high. The three Saudi Pro League clubs reported to be interested - Al Ahli, Al Shabab and Al Qadsiah - however, would all be prepared to pay the Blues’ demands.

Lukaku was first signed by Chelsea in 2011 but was sent on loan to West Brom and Everton during his three years with the side. He returned to Stamford Bridge in 2021 following hugely impressive stints with the Toffees, Manchester United and Inter, but the £97.5m signing was deemed by ESPN to be the ‘worst signing of the Premier League season’.

He has since spent the last two season on loan with Inter and Roma and is currently playing for Belgium in the European Championships. He has so far failed to score but has had three goals disallowed in two games. Belgium play Ukraine later today and are under great pressure to reach the round of 16, with all of Group E on the same number of points.