Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku ‘wants Serie A move this summer but tough tax laws could sabotage dream comeback’

CHELSEA striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly keen to leave the club and return to Italy – but tax rules could sabotage that move.

The 29-year-old Belgium international was the Blues’ top scorer, with 15 goals in all competitions.

But only eight of them have come to the Premier League, in 26 games.

After paying Inter Milan £97.5million to bring Lukaku back to England, more was expected.

Now, according to TuttoMercatoWeb, AC Milan and Juventus are sniffing around the striker.

But it is claimed that a loan move for Lukaku could be ruled out due to Italian tax rules.

Serie A clubs can apply for a 50% tax reduction on player salaries.

But that doesn’t apply to any player returning to Italy after just one season abroad – and the contract must also be for three years or more.

Lukaku would earn around £275,000 at Stamford Bridge which could potentially rule out any short-term deal to return to Italy.

The report adds that former club Inter Milan could prepare a transfer offer for their former striker.

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But Chelsea are said to be looking to recoup most if not all of the money they’ve paid them, which could kill that idea.

Lukaku recently appeared to criticize his own agent for suggesting he is looking to return to Inter Milan.

Federico Pastorello told La Repubblica: “He has the club and the fans in his heart, he has never hidden it, like his love for Anderlecht where he would like to end his career.

“But we can’t think of negotiations.

“Chelsea are in takeover talks, we don’t know the new owners, let alone if we can open talks with Inter or AC Milan. We have to wait.”

LUKAKU SPEAKS UP

But Lukaku took to his social media shortly after the quotes surfaced in Italy, appearing to hit his own rep.

The striker wrote: “Never will I let anyone speak for me.

“I kept my mouth shut and focused on helping the team and finishing the season in the best possible way.

“So if anyone tries to say anything about me and the club…not on my behalf.”

In January, Lukaku was forced to issue a creeping apology to Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel and the fans after a bombshell interview he gave in Italy.

In this, the striker said he would be ‘100% still at Inter’ if they offered him a new contract.