Remember the summer transfer window of 2017, the striker shuffle in the Premier League big six? It saw Manchester United swoop in and sign Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, who was heavily linked to Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side (one of Lukaku’s former clubs) at the time.
Real Madrid man Alvaro Morata was strongly linked to United, but went to Chelsea instead; where he subsequently flopped and then moved back to Atletico Madrid this past January. As for Lukaku, he’s been a major disappointment too, and his days at United are apparently coming to an end soon.
Lukaku will get his chance to play for Conte this upcoming season, as he’s reportedly agreed to personal terms with Inter Milan, where the former Chelsea boss is set to take charge.
How far along this deal is at this point depends on what outlet you believe.
Gazzette dello Sport claims that the centre-forward was in Milan earlier this month to discuss a move, with Metro stating that the deal was contingent on on Inter qualifying for the Champions League; which the club clinched on the final day of the season.
It’s not surprising that Lukaku is off to Serie A, as the big Belgian has openly discussed a move to Italy in the press this season.
The Express states that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will allow the deal to go through, and they cite the Sun’s reporting that Lukaku is set to take a pay cut in order to complete the move.
Sport Bible (via Football Italia), takes it a step further, reporting that United’s £75 million acquisition in 2017 has agreed to a five year deal worth €7.5m per year, before bonuses.
It is probably best for all involved that Lukaku moves on to Italy. He wants regular first team football, and he he won’t find that at United anymore. He wasn’t the answer in the Premier League, but he just might be in Serie A.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.