Chelsea Makes Romelu Lukaku As Major Striker Target This Summer.

Chelsea has made Romelu Lukaku as their number one striker target for the summer transfer window.

The Champions League winners are keen to re-signing the Belgian forward Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge, seven years after he was sold to Everton.

The 28-year-old is likely to leave Serie A champions Inter Milan following the departure of manager Antonio Conte who guided the club to their first league title in 11 years by mutual consent last Thursday.

Inter need to raise funds after the club’s Chinese owners, Suning, are looking to pull out of football and are looking for a fee in the region of £100m for their top goalscorer last season, a player they signed from Manchester United for almost £70m in August 2019.

Despite spending heavily on strengthening their attack last summer bringing in players like Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea are still determined to bring in a new striker ahead of next season.

Olivier Giroud’s expiring contract will free up room on the wage bill, while the Blues have also told Tammy Abraham that he can leave and will hope to raise money from selling both him and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Lukaku scored 30 goals in 44 appearances across all competition in the just concluded season, and also win the Serie A most valuable player of the year.

The West London club owner Roman Abramovich is ready to price away his favorite player from Italy this season, as he is more affordable than Erling Haaland who is another target for the Blues.

But CloudNine Sports understands that the 20-year-old Norwegian is under contract at the Bundesliga side until 2024, and has a reported €75m (£66m) release clause, which comes into effect in the summer of 2022.

Haaland who scored 41 goals in 41 games this season looks likely to remain in Germany beyond this summer, after his side secured Champions League qualification for next season.

Haaland's agent Mino Raiola and father Alf Inge, visited Barcelona and Madrid for talks in April, while he has also been linked with a move to Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid.