Chelsea or Inter? Lukaku reveals where he wants to play next season

While Belgian star Romelu Lukaku is expected to return to Chelsea this summer, Inter Milan have confirmed that the giant striker wants to stay with them. The 30-year-old striker has regained his form at San Siro after spending a season to forget at Stamford Bridge, where Lukaku scored just 15 goals for Chelsea after his £98m purchase, before being loaned out to Inter. Romelu Lukaku has made it clear he wants to stay at Inter Milan next season and is willing to take a significant pay cut to make it happen. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Lukaku is desperate to prolong his spell at San Siro but Inter cannot afford his current salary. As a result, Lukaku is willing to take a big pay decrease to ensure he is still at Inter in 2023-24. Lukaku returned to Inter last summer on a one-year loan from Chelsea. Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta has publicly confirmed that Lukaku will initially return to Chelsea at the end of the season. It will then be assessed in June whether a new loan deal can be agreed to bring Lukaku back in a separate move. Inter cannot afford to pay a transfer fee for Lukaku due to their financial problems but even a loan is difficult unless the Belgian take a big pay cut. Until recently, Inter was unwilling to keep Lukaku as he endured a dismal first half of the campaign plagued by injuries and poor performances. But Lukaku has been reborn since the March international break and has been in fantastic form - helping the Nerazzurri to the final of the Champions League and Coppa Italia. Inter is now considering whether to keep Lukaku, and the striker is doing everything he can to help. Incoming Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is a big fan of Lukaku and is reflecting on trying to convince the striker to stay at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea needs a new number 9 for 2023-24 and Pochettino believes Lukaku could be the man for the job. But Lukaku has already made it clear that he only wants Inter. Lukaku also helped Inter qualify for the Champions League final, where they will face Premier League champions Manchester City and has hinted he would prefer to stay at Milan when the next transfer window comes around.