Romelu Lukaku and Antonio Conte look set to be reuniting once again, with Napoli closing in on the striker. Following their successful stint at Inter Milan during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons, which culminated in winning the 19th Scudetto in the club’s history, the Belgian striker and the current Napoli manager are close to joining forces to revitalize their careers.
According to Sky Sport, Lukaku, who recently completed a loan spell at Roma where he scored 21 goals across all competitions, has reached a preliminary agreement with Napoli. To facilitate this move, Lukaku has agreed to a significant pay cut, reducing his salary from the €11 million net he currently earns at Chelsea to a three-year deal worth €6 million offered by Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis.
This substantial salary reduction highlights Lukaku’s determination to seize the opportunity to bounce back from a challenging period at Roma and a less-than-memorable European Championship with Belgium. Chelsea, which had previously demanded €40 million for a permanent transfer, has now indicated a willingness to lower their asking price to €35 million plus bonuses. However, Napoli, leveraging Lukaku’s desire to return to Italy, is aiming to cap their offer at €25 million plus bonuses.
The potential transfer is also closely tied to the future of Napoli’s star striker, Victor Osimhen. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has shown a keen interest in Osimhen as a replacement for Kylian Mbappé. However, PSG must first offload one of their current forwards, Gonçalo Ramos or Kolo Muani, and are reluctant to meet De Laurentiis’ demand for Osimhen’s €130 million release clause.
Negotiations could accelerate next week as Napoli anticipates a concrete offer from PSG for Osimhen. Should the Nigerian forward depart, it would pave the way for Lukaku’s arrival, marking a significant reshuffle in Napoli’s attacking lineup. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Lukaku and Conte will indeed reunite at Napoli, setting the stage for an intriguing transfer saga.
