Chelsea star offered mouthwatering £22m deal which could solve Pochettino headache this summer
The Saudi Pro League is sweeping up plenty of Europe’s top players right now and Al Hilal have put a mouthwatering offer on the table for a Chelsea star.
Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr earlier in the year, plenty of stars have looked to follow in his footsteps.
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema recently signed for Al-Ittihad and will be one of many European stars to make the jump this summer.
Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante is expected to make the switch to Saudi Arabia and he could be joined by one of his Chelsea teammates.
According to Goal, Romelu Lukaku is the latest player to be offered a lucrative deal to join the Saudi Pro League.
The report claims that Lukaku travelled to Paris soon after the Champions League final to discuss a deal with the leaders of Al Hilal.
A two-year contract has been proposed, with an annual salary of around £22m. However, the report does claim that the Belgian forward could demand more money.
Along with negotiating with Lukaku, Al Hilal will also have to strike a deal with Chelsea. The 30-year-old is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2026.
Chelsea spent £97.5m to sign the forward in 2021 and they are unlikely to receive anything around that figure right now.
The Premier League side are reportedly looking for around £43m, although Al Hilal are not willing to offer that much.
If Chelsea are looking to sell the 30-year-old this summer, they might need to lower their valuation.
Lukaku needs a fresh start
There’s no doubt that Lukaku’s stock has fallen considerably in the last couple of years. While he started well upon his return to Chelsea, things quickly turned sour.
In an attempt to rejuvenate his career, he then spent this season on loan with Inter. While he did find some success, he was often behind Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko in the pecking order.
Injuries also haven’t helped his case of late. The forward has struggled with knee and hamstring injuries throughout the season.
While he has had a tough time of late, he still knows how to find the back of the net. It wasn’t to be for Lukaku in the Champions League final, as he squandered a fine chance towards the end.
However, his overall record for Inter this season is decent. In Serie A, he has scored 10 goals and provided five six assists. Taking his game time into consideration, that’s a goal contribution every 103 minutes.
If Lukaku does indeed settle on a move to Al Hilal, that could solve one of Mauricio Pochettino’s problems for next season.
While the Belgian forward could be handed an opportunity by Pochettino, it seems more feasible that the Argentine boss wants a new number nine.
Due to Chelsea’s bloated squad, plenty of outgoings are expected this summer. Given how the last couple of years have gone for Lukaku, a move this summer could be best for all parties.
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