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Chelsea finally agree deal to SELL Romelu Lukaku with striker to set to join Napoli in permanent transfer
Deal could mean yet another incoming at Chelsea
CHELSEA have verbally agreed for outcast Romelu Lukaku to join Napoli in a £38milion package.
The Belgium striker is set to sign a three-year deal until 2027, which sees him reunited with former Blues boss Antonie Conte.
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Chelsea have accepted a £25m fixed fee, plus add-ons worth up to £13m for a £38m potential bundle, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
Conte has been keen on taking Lukaku to Napoli all summer.
The Serie A side initially hoped to sign the towering striker on loan with a view to a permanent deal.
But Blues chiefs had insisted they were not interested in loaning him out, and were demanding a £38m fee.
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And it seems a deal has finally been struck, with Chelsea desperately trying to offload a host of players before the end of the window next week.
The 31-year-old has spent the last two seasons on loan in Italy, firstly with Inter Milan and then Roma.
However, Chelsea wanted a sale this summer and are set to get their own way, with the deal likely to include a sell-on clause.
Lukaku joining Napoli will mean striker Victor Osimhen could edge closer to leaving the Italian club.
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Chelsea have kept tabs on the Nigerian all summer, though face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi Arabia.
Osimhen's wages, close to £300,000, could prove an issue.
Stunned fans say 'this guy is ready to throw anyone under the bus' as Enzo Maresca lays into yet another Chelsea star
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Ilkay Gundogan has completed a stunning return to Manchester City.
Raheem Sterling is in talks with Aston Villa as he nears a Chelsea exit, according to reports.
Kieran Trippier reportedly wants to leave Newcastle before the transfer window closes.
Liverpool are reportedly closing in on the £29.9m signing of Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
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Chelsea's American owners have worked hard to reduce the overall wage bill at Stamford Bridge - and Osimhen's salary would not fit the new structure.
The Blues want to shift Ben Chilwell who earns a whopping £200,000 per-week, and joint top earner Raheem Sterling who bags £325,000 per-week.
Lukaku also pocketed the same wages as Sterling after his £97.5million return to West London from Inter in 2021.
Roma covered the weekly bill after he agreed to a salary cut for the remaining three years of his Premier League contract.
He has not played for Chelsea since May 2022 after publicly stating to Sky Italia his unhappiness under former manager Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea ratings vs Servette
CHELSEA sealed their first win under new manager Enzo Maresca as they beat Swiss minnows Servette.
Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke got the second-half goals to give the Blues a commanding lead in their Uefa Conference League play-off double header.
But it was far from convincing with Chelsea BOOED OFF at half-time.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jack Rosser rated the Blues stars…
Filip Jorgensen – 7
Made some very smart saves - especially late on as the visitors caused problems and came close to finding a goal to get back in.
Axel Disasi – 6
Kept things quiet down Chelsea’s right hand side having been started out of position at right-back. The Frenchman did not offer much going forwards but was more than solid enough defensively.
Tosin Adarabioyo – 6
An assured first start for the club since joining from Fulham on a free transfer. The defender was not caused any real problems and dominated in the air – a big reason Chelsea decided to snap him up.
Benoit Badiashile – 6
Solid enough defensively but looked awkward on the ball at times, especially when Chelsea were trying to pick a way through a solid midfield.
Renato Veiga – 5
Was given the task of moving inside from left-back and looked to struggle a lot at points, losing the ball cheaply on half way at one stage.
Moises Caicedo – 5
The midfielder was sent out in the holding role and hardly helped defensively by having Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Nkunku, a striker, ahead of him. Struggled to get a grip of midfield and dictate the game.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 7
A very encouraging full debut for the summer signing – neat and positive on the ball and created some good chances for those ahead of him.
Pedro Neto – 6
A first start for his new club and the winger made some very encouraging runs down the right hand side. Will take time to settle but looks a very good option.
Christopher Nkunku – 6
Rather fortunate to win the penalty as it looked a touch harsh but stepped up and converted well.
Mykhailo Mudryk – 4
The definition of all bark, no bite. The Ukrainian winger has pace to burn and a huge bag of tricks but neither help him make any significant impact on games.
Continuing to play like that and Raheem Sterling might have a future here after all.
Marc Guiu – 6
Missed an absolute sitter to score his first goal for Chelsea.
After working so hard through the first half, Guiu turned a tap in into a howler when putting what should have been an easy finish straight at the scrambling Servette keeper.
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