“Let me go please” – Chelsea star ready to force himself out of Enzo Maresca Chelsea team
Romelu Lukaku’s discount for Serie A team Napoli is something Chelsea is willing to tolerate.
Romelu Lukaku is prepared to fight his way out of the Enzo Maresca Chelsea club and sign with Serie A team Napoli this summer, according to a report from Italian outlet Kiss Kiss Napoli (h/t Area Napoli).
Antonio Conte has been appointed head coach of Napoli in an attempt to turn things around after the team’s disappointing Serie A season. The Italian strategist is a well-liked manager throughout the continent, and he is eager to get back together with Romelu Lukaku in Naples after the striker won the Scudetto with one of his previous clubs, Inter Milan.
The aforementioned report (h/t Area Napoli) claims Antonio Conte is pushing to bring the Belgium international, who is back to Chelsea after completing a loan spell with AS Roma. The 31-year-old centre-forward doesn’t fit into the Blues’ plans moving forward and will be sold.
Lukaku has a £37m release clause in his contract at Chelsea until 2026 (Transfermarkt), but with the striker pushing to leave Stamford Bridge this year, the report adds that the West London outfit are now prepared to accept a discount to free him from their wage bill.
Since Conte’s appointment, Lukaku has become Napoli’s primary target to potentially replace Victor Osimhen as the main man in their attack next season. The Chelsea outcast has had several approaches from Saudi Arabian clubs but he doesn’t want to leave European football so soon and remains keen to team up with Conte once again.
Chelsea would know that Lukaku’s signing hasn’t worked out at all. The Pensioners, who are moving into a new direction under Enzo Maresca, clearly have no room for the Belgium international in the squad and want to offload him from their books. The 31-year-old wants to leave Stamford Bridge permanently as well, having found his mojo again in Serie A.
The Antwerp-born star had a fruitful 2023/24 season with AS Roma, bagging 21 goals and four assists in 47 appearances across all competitions. His stock has risen after proving himself to be a reliable goalscorer in Serie A once again, which should only help Chelsea get a decent fee from his potential sale.
There is no doubt that Lukaku is still good enough to play at the highest level. He can work wonders under the tutelage of Conte and has the qualities to transform Napoli’s attack. That said, we must look to quickly offload the big Belgian and reinvest the money from his sale to address the pressing issues in Enzo Maresca’s squad.