Inter Milan have confirmed they are interested in signing Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United and have held talks with the Premier League side for a transfer.
In an interview with Sky Sport Italia, Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio has confirmed that the Nerazzurri are very much interested in signing wantaway Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku and have opened negotiations over the possibility of a transfer with the English heavyweights.
Lukaku has been with Manchester United for two years now, having signed from Everton in a £75 million deal in the summer of 2017. The Belgian international enjoyed a fruitful first season with the Red Devils, but struggled to repeat the success in the 2018-19 campaign, which saw him fall behind Marcus Rashford in the pecking order.
With Lukaku losing his place as the spearhead of the Manchester United attack, the 26-year-old has been heavily linked with a summer move away from Old Trafford, with Serie A bigwigs Inter Milan being touted as a likely destination, following the appointment of Antonio Conte as their new manager.
Conte was keen on signing Lukaku during his time at Chelsea, but was beaten to the punch by Manchester United. And the Italian tactician has once again made the Belgian powerhouse his primary transfer target at Inter Milan, who are actively looking to offload star striker Mauro Icardi after a major falling out in the previous campaign.
And now, Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio has confirmed that the Nerazzurri have made an official approach to Manchester United as they look to ramp up their efforts to sign Lukaku. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, he said: “We had a meeting with Manchester United for Lukaku. It was an official approach between two important clubs. We’ll see what happens. Conte wants every player we’re trying to sign.”
It has been reported that Inter Milan have made an initial two-year loan offer for Lukaku with an obligation to sign the Belgian international permanently at the end of it for a fee of €70 million (£63 million). However, Manchester United are not open to such an arrangement and are looking to recoup the entire amount they paid Everton to sign Lukaku.
As per the report, Inter Milan had also offered Icardi and Radja Nainggolan as part of a deal to bring Lukaku to Italy, but Manchester United remain insistent on a cash-only offer and have dismissed the possibility of a swap deal.
Lukaku missed Manchester United’s open training session in Perth earlier this week, but manager Ole Gunnar has stated that he is keen on retaining the former Chelsea striker in his squad for the upcoming season. With the two clubs still quite apart in their valuation of the player, it remains to be seen if Lukaku ends up sealing his desired switch to Inter Milan.
