Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has eyed up a move for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku this summer, according to a report.
The Belgian has endured a difficult return to Stamford Bridge since sealing a club-record £97.5m deal from Inter Milan last summer, scoring just eight goals and failing to provide an assist in 26 Premier League appearances.
Lukaku has appeared close to the exit door at Stamford Bridge ever since a controversial interview at the end of 2021, in which he revealed his desire to return to Inter after failing to settle in Thomas Tuchel's side.
However, no move materialised in January and the Belgian was used sparingly during the second half of the 2021-22 campaign, but it has been reported in recent days that Inter are pushing for his return this summer, and that the player is also requesting the move back to Italy.
A potential loan deal with a £20m fee has been discussed, but now Spurs are set to rival Inter for Lukaku's signature in the coming weeks according to Calciomercato, who report that Conte is keen on a reunion with his former striker.
The pair worked together as recently as the 2020-21 season at the San Siro, during which Inter claimed their first Scudetto in over a decade and Lukaku scored 24 goals and registered 11 assists in 36 Serie A appearances.
The report suggests that Conte wishes to partner his number one target Lukaku with Harry Kane in the Spurs attack next season, and that the 52-year-old is all that stands between the Belgian's potential return to Italy.
Matthew Tranter
