“Good decision” – £98 million Chelsea player has now decided to join the European club
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One Chelsea player has set his sights on a European move but is currently in a holding pattern, waiting for the transfer to be finalized.
Players on Chelsea’s Transfer List
Several players have already left Stamford Bridge, including Thiago Silva, Hakim Ziyech, Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson, Michael Golding, and Ian Maatsen, generating around £89 million. However, more departures are expected before the transfer window closes. Despite spending around £93 million on Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Estevao Willian, and Renato Veiga, Chelsea has managed a net spend of just £4 million due to these exits.
Potential Sales to Balance the Books
To further trim their wage bill, Chelsea is considering offloading several players. Among them is star midfielder Conor Gallagher, whose contract expires next year. Although selling Gallagher might be unpopular given his Chelsea roots, the club faces the tough decision of finding a buyer or risking losing him for free in 2025. Other players linked with potential exits include Armando Broja, Malang Sarr, Trevoh Chalobah, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Romelu Lukaku Situation
The most notable name Chelsea is eager to offload is striker Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian has attracted interest from Serie A clubs AC Milan and Napoli, as well as from Saudi Pro League teams. Signed for around £98 million from Inter Milan three years ago, Lukaku’s stint at Chelsea has been disappointing. After one full season, he was loaned back to Inter and then to Roma last season. Lukaku, one of Chelsea’s highest earners at £325,000 per week, is a priority for the club to move on. Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley are tasked with finding him a new club.
Lukaku’s Next Move: Napoli Bound?
According to Corriere dello Sport, via TUTTOmercatoWEB, Lukaku has chosen to join Napoli, reuniting with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte. However, the move hinges on Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis finding a buyer for star striker Victor Osimhen, with PSG reportedly negotiating a fee slightly below Osimhen’s £110 million release clause. Should Osimhen move to Paris, it would pave the way for Lukaku’s transfer to Naples. Conte has frequently praised Lukaku, calling him a “top-class” striker, indicating a strong desire to bring him to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
