Chelsea set to create £40m black hole for Romelu Lukaku as striker sends message to Jose Mourinho

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is set to cost owner Todd Boehly £40million after telling Jose Mourinho he wants to reunite with him at AS Roma this summer. The Belgian is not part of Mauricio Pochettino's plans at Stamford Bridge and the club only considered selling him this summer, but Lukaku's desire to reconnect with former boss Mourinho for a second time could derail their plans get rid of him. /p>

The Blues are keen to recoup some of the £97.5million they spent to acquire him from Inter Milan for a second spell in west London. But it just didn't go to plan, with Lukaku scoring just eight Premier League goals before returning to Italy on loan last season.

The 30-year-old has been for sale since Inter dropped plans to bring him back to San Siro, after reports he was in talks with rivals Juventus, but Chelsea are yet to found a buyer in Europe ready to meet him. their demands.

The Sunday Mirror reports that Lukaku is currently in the Italian capital of Rome hoping to complete a loan move at the Stadio Olimpico, with the Giallorossi ready to spend big to get Mourinho as his man.

And they will be encouraged by the striker's interest in joining the Roma team. He has informed Mourinho of his preference to join him at Roma, having played under the Portuguese tactician at Chelsea and Manchester United.

But Roma are only willing to approve a loan deal, which could impact Todd Boehly's plans to collect a hefty fee.

The US billionaire has already raked in £230m in player sales and taken a considerable chunk out of the salary budget. Lukaku's £325,000-a-week salary would go some way to bringing him down even further, with Roma ready to cover his full salary.

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Saudi Pro League clubs are interested in offering the Belgium international a tempting deal as well as paying the £40m, but Lukaku isn't keen on joining Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema in the group. Middle East.

Al-Hilal have submitted a £40million bid for his services, but Lukaku is aiming to return to Italy. Boehly hopes to include an obligation to buy clause in the deal during its negotiations, with Lukaku still having three years left on his contract.

After watching a swap deal with Juventus collapse, the west London club are acutely aware of the need to flog the unwanted striker ahead of the transfer deadline, the 1st September.

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