Conte calls Romelu Lukaku “an outstanding player” as Napoli look to move
Romelu Lukaku’s future is unclear as the Belgian star is set to leave Chelsea ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
The striker rejoined the Blues in the summer of 2021 as part of a massive £97.5m deal with Inter Milan. That transfer didn’t work out and the former Man United star has spent the last two seasons on loan.
Lukaku spent the 2022/23 season back at Inter and the current campaign has seen the 31-year-old play his football with Roma. None of these clubs are looking to sign Lukaku this summer as Chelsea look to part ways with the striker.
Napoli are one of the teams looking to pursue the Belgian player this summer as Conte has worked with the player at Inter. The Naples-based club will have to part with £38m for the Chelsea striker according to reports, and the Blues are determined not to budge from that asking price.
Conte has now added to the rumors with his latest comments on Lukaku as the Italian coach heaped praise on the 31-year-old.
“He’s a top-class, top-class player. There is nothing else to say,” said Napoli coach Fabrizio Romano when asked about Lukaku moving to Naples.
“You always hope to have a player like Romelu on your side… not against you”.
Napoli need Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku ahead of the new season
Napoli will need to sign a new striker this summer as Victor Osimhen is expected to leave the Serie A club during the current transfer window. The Nigerian star is the top scorer in the Italian team and it will not be easy to replace him.
Lukaku has certainly dropped in quality but the Belgian is coming off a decent season in Italy with Roma.
The 31-year-old knows Serie A well and will not cost Napoli much compared to the transfer fee he will receive from Osimhen.
It remains to be seen whether the Italian side will make an official move for Lukaku in the coming weeks as the Belgian looks set to start the season with his fourth club in four seasons.
Source link
