Chelsea's £100m flop on the verge of exit with Napoli agreement imminent

Romelu Lukaku is on the brink of leaving the club, with reports indicating an agreement has been reached with Italian side Napoli for his transfer. The deal, valued at around £21 million (€25 million), would see the Belgian international depart Stamford Bridge after a disappointing second stint with the Blues.

Lukaku's imminent departure is just one part of Chelsea's busy summer transfer window. The club has already offloaded several players, including Ian Maatsen, Omari Hutchinson, and Lewis Hall, as they look to reshape their squad for the upcoming season. With the window still open, more departures are anticipated in the coming weeks.

The 31-year-old striker, who spent the previous season on loan at AS Roma, has struggled to make an impact at Chelsea since his high-profile return to the club in 2021. Despite his goal-scoring exploits in Italy, where he netted 21 times and provided four assists in 47 appearances, Chelsea has decided not to reintegrate Lukaku into their plans.

Napoli's pursuit of Lukaku is closely tied to the future of their own star forward, Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian international has attracted interest from several top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea themselves. PSG has been in talks with Napoli over a potential deal for Osimhen, which could involve a substantial transfer fee and the inclusion of players like Carlos Soler, Nordi Mukiele, or Lee Kang-In.

Should Osimhen secure a move away from Napoli, the path would be clear for Lukaku to join the Serie A club. The prospect of reuniting with his former Inter Milan coach, Antonio Conte, is believed to be a significant factor in Lukaku's decision. Under Conte's guidance, the Belgian enjoyed a prolific spell, helping Inter secure the Serie A title in the 2020-21 season.

As Lukaku edges closer to the exit door, Chelsea continues their search for a new striker. Osimhen has been on their radar, but the high asking price has cooled their interest. If the Blues fail to secure a marquee signing in the No. 9 role, they will rely on the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku to lead the line in the upcoming campaign.

The club is keen to recoup a portion of the significant investment they made in Lukaku, having signed him for a reported £97.5 million in August 2021. His departure, while not entirely unexpected, will leave a void in Chelsea's attacking options that will need to be addressed.