Napoli and Romelu Lukaku would appear to have finally worn down Chelsea resistance and can get the deal done over the next few days, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Director Giovanni Manna flew back to London today for more negotiations with Chelsea, but also Brighton and Hove Albion for Billy Gilmour and Manchester United for Scott McTominay.
Their main target since the moment Antonio Conte arrived was Lukaku, who already worked with him so well at Inter.
Lukaku only wanted Napoli
Chelsea had been adamant they would not sell for less than his release clause, which is set at €44m, but the latest proposal from the Partenopei is probably going to be sufficient.
That is a loan with obligation to buy at the end of the season for a total €30m (€25m plus €5m in add-ons), that at least guarantees the Blues some remuneration for the €113m they paid to Inter in the summer of 2021.
Since then, he has returned to Inter on loan, then to Roma, and has no place in Enzo Maresca’s vastly expanded squad.
For all the haggling over the details, it never really seemed to be in doubt that the Belgium international would end up at Napoli this season.
He begged for 14 mil discount but won’t give 2 on Folorunsho.
Utter nonsense ,