Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku is allegedly prepared to consider a transfer to a Saudi Arabian club, just weeks after he was said to have rejected the opportunity.
On Friday afternoon, Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino revealed that Lukaku is currently due to commence pre-season training during the middle part of next week.
However, speculation over the 30-year-old's long-term future is a weekly hot topic for debate, with it already being an open secret that he would prefer to stay at Inter Milan.
Lukaku has just enjoyed a productive loan stint at San Siro, one which was facilitated just a year after he left Inter to move to Stamford Bridge in a £97.5m deal.
Nevertheless, Inter are currently not in a position where they can afford to sign the Belgium international on a permanent deal, reducing their chances of a further reunion.
© Reuters
Inter have already publicly acknowledged that Chelsea have informed them that they will not accept any more loan bids for Lukaku's signature, and it effectively leaves the player needing to be open minded about his future.
According to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs, Inter have already had a formal bid for Lukaku 'rejected out of hand' by Chelsea's hierarchy.
Furthermore, Jacobs says that Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital want to recoup £45m for Lukaku, still less than half of what the previous ownership paid in 2021.
Juventus are said to be a genuine contender in the race for Lukaku, despite their financial issues and having only qualified for next season's Europa Conference League.
© Reuters
Last month, Lukaku reportedly turned down a chance to move to the Saudi Pro League, despite the lucrative terms that were on the table at the time.
Nevertheless, it is now claimed that Lukaku is giving 'serious' consideration to making the switch to the Middle East with Al-Hilal keen to secure his signature.
Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves have already left Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, and the Blue Waves are now in the market for a high-profile centre forward.
Jorge Jesus has recently been appointed as head coach for the second time, with the veteran boss having spent the last two campaigns at Benfica and Fenerbahce respectively.
Darren Plant
