There appears to be a lot of speculation floating around Italy these days regarding the future of Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.
Currently out on loan at AS Roma until the end of the season, the Belgian is recovering some form under José Mourinho, but a claim on Tuesday suggested he would soon be heading to Saudi Arabia.
However, according to journalist Ilario Di Giovambattista, speaking on Radio Radio, relayed by Giallorossi.net, that isn’t the case, and the Chelsea player will be staying where he is for the foreseeable future.
He claimed: “Roma and Chelsea have reached an agreement to retain Lukaku. The Belgian can stay for another two years. Roma will be able to comply with the FFP thanks to the sale of Abraham, to Chelsea or another Premier League club.
“Lukaku’s contract, already signed with Chelsea and then transferred to Roma, starts at €7.5m/year net but increases, thanks to bonuses and sponsorships, reaching €11m in total. Only Lukaku can blow up this deal, but there should not be any surprises…”
The other journalists on the show all agreed with that reasoning, with Gianni Visnadi feeling the idea of Lukaku staying at Roma for another two years is ‘all credible’, and it will be down to Lukaku whether this actually happens.
He points out, which everyone already knows, that Chelsea ‘want to get rid of him’, with the Serie A side agreeing to the deal as a ‘confirmation’ that Mourinho will be staying.
Meanwhile, Stefano Agresti also warned that Lukaku is someone who ‘changes his mind easily’, but he is doing ‘very well’ in Rome, where he feels ‘comfortable’.
Chelsea, down their end, are ‘happy to have him off their hands’, and it’s likely that he is having ‘more fun’ where he is than he would be in Saudi Arabia.
Finally, Furio Focolari wasn’t overly convinced by the idea of it already being done, but did admit the player was ‘fantastic’ and Roma would do well to do what they can to keep him around.
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