Inter and Chelsea have been negotiating a permanent transfer of Romelu Lukaku for some time. However, there are more hijackers on the coast for the thirty-year-old Belgian.
Inter will have stiff competition in the battle for Lukaku
Two years ago, Chelsea transferred about 115 million euros to Milan for Lukaku. The striker is therefore still the most expensive purchase in the club history of The Blues. However, the second marriage between the Belgian and the London club was unsuccessful. After a difficult first year, Lukaku returned to Inter on a rental basis.
The Nerazzurri hope to take over the Belgian permanently, but obviously do not have the financial means to approach the transfer fee of two years ago. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea is prepared to put a lot of water in the wine. Chelsea initially bet on an asking price of at least forty million euros.
According to the Italian newspaper, Inter will continue for Lukaku this week. In the British media, however, stories will also appear on Saturday about interest from Juventus and Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia. Those clubs could pay more than the thirty million that Inter has set aside for Lukaku.
Gerrard states that he did not switch to Saudi Arabia just for the money
Speaking of the Saudi League, Steven Gerrard says he is very excited about his new adventure at Al-Ettifaq. The choice of the English legend for a trainer’s adventure in Saudi Arabia does not splash the sporting ambition, but the former Liverpool midfielder sees it differently.
As a manager, Gerrard played a major role in the rise of Rangers FC. The league title in the 2020/21 season ended the hegemony of Celtic, who had won the championship nine times in a row. In his first coaching job in the Premier League, the 43-year-old former international then disappointed. After just under a year at the helm at Villa Park, he was sacked in October of last year. How to continue with the coaching career?
The Englishman himself does not agree with the image that he opted for the money: “We all have the ambition here to ensure a lot of development, to make the Saudi competition one of the best competitions in the world.”
Although Gerrard was only presented last week, he already speaks of a real family feeling at Al-Ettifaq. “This club has a great culture and the support is fantastic. The board is ambitious and consists of very good people, who put a lot of time and energy into the club. When I came to Saudi Arabia I immediately felt at home and very welcome. It felt like a family,” says Gerrard, whose words will undoubtedly be appreciated in his new homeland.
