Inter Milan want around £100m (€117m) for Chelsea target Romelu Lukaku and may be forced to cash in on him before the end of the transfer window.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Lukaku had jumped back to the top of Chelsea’s striker wish-list, with the Blues now actively pursuing a deal for their former player.

Inter have insisted that Lukaku is not for sale and have rejected proposed deals for the Belgian that have included Marcos Alonso, but Chelsea remain undeterred.

Sources close to the Italian club, who have financial difficulties, have confirmed they need to sanction at least one more big sale before the end of the month.

Inter would prefer to sell Lukaku’s team-mate Lautaro Martinez, who is of interest to Arsenal, but so far they have only Chelsea ready to pay big money for Lukaku.

Chelsea still hope to negotiate Inter’s asking price down or convince the Serie A champions to accept a player going in the opposite direction, and there is growing confidence at the London club that a deal may be viable.

Lukaku has made it clear that he is happy to start the new season at Inter and there is no prospect of him requesting a move or refusing to train. But it is believed he would listen to any proposal from Chelsea.

He is adamant that he will decide his future, rather than following the wishes of an agent or a club, and the opinion of his mother, Adolphine, could be key.

She is believed to have played a big role in Lukaku’s decision to first join Everton and then reject a new contract to leave. He originally wanted to rejoin Chelsea from the Toffees, but was convinced to move, instead, to Manchester United.

Lukaku subsequently split from his old agent Mino Raiola, who brokered the United move, and is now represented by Federico Pastorello. 

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]