Romelu Lukaku close to Inter loan return to kick-start Chelsea spending with Raheem Sterling high on shopping list

CHELSEA are preparing to kick-start their summer as Romelu Lukaku closes on a return to Inter Milan.

The Blues flop will head back to the San Siro on loan, with the Italians set to improve their loan-fee offer in the coming days.

Chelsea are keen on signing Raheem Sterling with Romelu Lukaku on his way outCredit: Getty

Romelu Lukaku is close to join Inter Milan on loanCredit: Reuters

Lukaku’s exit — after a disastrous season following his club-record £97.5million move last summer — will clear the way for Thomas Tuchel to add to his forward line.

And, as reported by SunSport earlier this month, Manchester City star Raheem Sterling is high on Tuchel’s shopping list.

The England winger, 27, has just a year left on his deal at the Etihad and is considering his options this summer.

Sterling has not made a decision on his future yet but Chelsea are ready to tempt him back to London having grown up in Brent.

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Sterling has 131 goals in 339 City appearances and — even though he is a free agent next summer — the Premier League champions still want up to £60million to sell in this window.

In October last year, Sterling admitted he would be open to leaving for more game time.

Speaking at an FT Live event, Sterling said: “If there was the opportunity to go somewhere else for more game time I would be open to it.”

He was named on the bench for both legs of City’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid and the final two Premier League games of the season.

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As well as chasing Sterling, Chelsea also have an interest in Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele.

The French ace, 25, is prepared to move to Stamford Bridge on a free transfer so long as Tuchel, who coached the winger at Borussia Dortmund, can give him assurances over his game time.

There is also serious interest in Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.

The Poland international, 33, has made it clear he wants to leave the German club but Barcelona is his preferred choice.

Tuchel must also address his back four after already losing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen as their contracts expired this summer.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

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