From Moshood Karim
Napoli have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea in a deal valued at up to £38 million.
The agreement, which includes a base fee of £26 million plus £12 million in potential add-ons, was finalized after Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna met with Chelsea officials on Friday, marking their second meeting this week.
The 31-year-old Lukaku is set to sign a three-year contract with the Italian club, reuniting with former manager Antonio Conte. Lukaku has already spent the past two seasons on loan in Italy, playing for Inter Milan during the 2022-23 season and AS Roma in 2023-24.
This move will see him join a third Serie A club, further cementing his presence in Italian football.
Lukaku’s return to Serie A comes after a tumultuous period at Chelsea. The London club signed him from Inter Milan in August 2021 for a staggering £97.5 million, but his time at Stamford Bridge was marked by inconsistency.
Lukaku scored 15 goals in 44 appearances during the 2021-22 season, but he has not featured for Chelsea since May 2022.
The deal also comes amid Chelsea’s ongoing search for a new striker, with the Premier League club reportedly showing serious interest in Napoli’s star forward Victor Osimhen this summer.
This transfer could potentially set the stage for further negotiations between the two clubs as Chelsea continues to rebuild their squad.
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