Milan’s pursuit of a new striker has taken a significant turn as the club has put its interest in Joshua Zirkzee on hold and is now making a strong push to sign Romelu Lukaku. The excellent relationship between Milan and Chelsea could facilitate this deal, with the former Inter star open to the transfer.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report how Lukaku’s interactions with Milan have been varied, from intense face-offs with Zlatan Ibrahimovic to physical duels with Matteo Gabbia. Now, these encounters could evolve into a partnership, with Lukaku donning the Rossoneri jersey. This move represents a shift from Milan’s strategy of nurturing young talent at San Siro, as Lukaku, at 31, brings extensive experience from his stints in Belgium, Italy, and England. His Serie A experience (129 matches) and overall Italian football experience (179 matches) could provide the new Milan with much-needed reliability in their revamped attack.
The Belgian strikers transfer would be financially advantageous for Milan. Unlike the 40 million euros required for Zirkzee or the €50 million-plus for Sesko or Santiago Gimenez, Lukaku could be acquired for much less, potentially even on loan. This would allow Milan to allocate funds to strengthen other areas of the squad. However, Lukaku’s salary remains a consideration, as he earned €7.5 million in his last season with Roma. With two years left on his Chelsea contract, Lukaku is unlikely to stay in London and is seeking a new challenge, which Milan seems ready to offer.
Antonio Conte at Napoli is also interested in Lukaku, potentially linking his move to Victor Osimhen’s transfer to Chelsea. However, the arrival of Enzo Maresca as Chelsea’s manager has shifted the club’s offensive priorities, affecting Lukaku’s future. Last season, the 31-year-old scored 13 goals in Serie A, one in the Coppa Italia, and seven in the Europa League for Roma, demonstrating his continued ability to challenge Italian defenses.
Milan’s renewed interest in Lukaku marks a return to a previous pursuit. The club had considered him last summer and is now more determined to secure his services, which could lead to abandoning the Zirkzee pursuit. The €40 million clause for Zirkzee remains within Milan’s budget, but the additional €15 million in agent fees pose a significant hurdle. Milan is exploring ways to navigate this issue.
