Chelsea are closing in on a deal to re-sign Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku after making a breakthrough in negotiations with Inter Milan, according to multiple reports.
The European Champions have already had a bid of €100 million ($117.6m) plus Spanish full-back Marcos Alonso rejected by Inter but a new offer of €115m without Alonso is set to be accepted.
Lukaku, 28, has reportedly requested Inter to accept a bid from Chelsea and is set to sign a five-year contract with the club he joined from Anderlecht as a teenager in 2011.
Lukaku struggled to break into the first team during his first spell at Stamford Bridge, despite successful loan spells at West Brom and Everton. The Belgian joined the latter permanently in 2014 for a club record £28m ($38.8m) and after three prolific seasons, moved to Manchester United for £75m, opting for a move to Old Trafford over a return to Chelsea.
Two seasons later, Lukaku joined Inter for a club record €80m and helped fire the club to the Serie A title last season. However, Inter's financial troubles have forced them to listen to offers for some of their key players. Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi has already moved to Paris Saint-Germain for €60m.
Lukaku's impending return to Chelsea brings an end to the club's search for a centre-forward having struggled for goals last season. Central midfielder Jorginho was Chelsea's highest goalscorer during the 2020/21 Premier League campaign with seven - all of them penalties.
Lukaku will become Chelsea's record signing, far eclipsing the €80m the Blues spent to sign German Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
His arrival could spell the end for England international Tammy Abraham, who has fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea since Thomas Tuchel's appointment in January.
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THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
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7pm: Flood Zone
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
more from Janine di Giovanni
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
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Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
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Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
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The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
The specs
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Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
HOW TO WATCH
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