Inter Milan reject another Chelsea offer, but Lukaku’s head may have turned — reports

Chelsea’s pursuit of a player not looking to leave a club that are not looking to sell may have taken a somewhat surprising turn, even as another offer (our... third?) has been rejected.

As unwise as this may all seem — how much money again for someone not exactly champing at the bit? — some reports out of Italy, like this one from La Repubblica, are now claiming that Romelu Lukaku is “really faltering” in his commitment to Inter. Chelsea’s apparent willingness to essentially double his salary (from €7.5m to €15m annually) might have something to do with that!

Meanwhile, Chelsea have again tested Inter’s resolve with a €100m (£88m) bid, plus Marcos Alonso, and while that was rejected, we apparently are not averse to coming back with €130m (£111m) straight cash money.

Inter don’t need to sell (their finances are not perfect but are better than before) and they don’t want to sell either (Lukaku was said to be the last player they’d let go), but would also not fight too hard if Lukaku were to start pushing for an exit, especially in light of Chelsea’s willingness to break the bank.

The question then might be just how desperate we are to spend untold amounts on a big-name striker this summer, and what our logic may be behind spending nearly as much on Lukaku, 28 (last big move) as it might take to acquire Haaland, 21 (first big move) — or even spending that much on one player in the first place.

Just how silly are we prepared to get in the last month of Silly Season?