Serie A giants, Inter Milan, are demanding at least £102.5m for Chelsea-linked forward Romelu Lukaku, according to Football-Italia.
Chelse are in the market for a new centre-forward ahead of the 2021/22 season, they have identified Dortmund hotshot Erling Haaland as their No.1 transfer target.
However, German giants are adamant that 21-year-old striker will stay with them for at least one more year, while the Blues would need to pay £160m to lure him away from Signal Iduna Park.
Inter Milan forward Romelu Lukaku has been identified as an alternative and cheaper option to Haaland, following Inter’s need financial issue as they are in need to balance their finances before the start of the 2021/22 season.
However, Tuttosport reports that the Serie A giants are now looking to keep Belgian forward at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza after selling Achraf Hakimi to PSG in a reported €71m (£60.7m) deal last month.
The report suggests that Tomas Tuchel’s side would need to offer at least €120m (£102.5m) to tempt Inter into selling their top-scorer who played a huge role in their title-winning 2020/21 season.
Lukaku, who joined Inter Milan for £74m has managed to found back of the net 64 times in 95 games for the Serie A giants.
Shortly before the start of Euro 2020, Belgian centre-forward also publicly claimed that he is planning to stay at San Siro and work with new head-coach Simone Inzaghi.
‘Yes, I am staying,’ the striker told VTM.
‘I’ve already had contact with the man who normally becomes our new manager [Simone Inzaghi]. Maybe I shouldn’t say that yet… but it was a very positive conversation.
The Blues are also believed to be considering a move for Bayern Munich’s centre-forward Robert Lewandowski as an alternative signing to Lukaku and Haaland.
The 32-year-old forward has just two years left on his current deal with German giants, and Chelsea have made enquiries to the striker’s agents.
Chelsea are also keen on strengthening their defensive options with Real Madrid centre-back, Raphael Varane rumoured with a possible move to Stamford Bridge following his contract situation with the Spanish giants.
