Chelsea’s pursuit of Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella through a proposed trade involving Romelu Lukaku has hit a roadblock, according to reports.
Despite the attempt, the deal seems unlikely to materialize anytime soon, as revealed by Italian news outlet Tuttomercatoweb.
The report indicates that Barella is hesitant to join Chelsea, particularly given their absence from the Champions League, or would demand a substantial salary increase to consider such a move.
Nicolo Barella, a standout performer for Inter Milan, has caught Chelsea’s attention as a potential asset.
However, Chelsea’s current season struggles, marked by a lackluster performance, underscore the urgency for the club to regain its winning form and secure a spot in European competitions to attract players of Barella’s caliber.
The unsuccessful attempt to include Romelu Lukaku in the deal is noteworthy.
Despite Lukaku opting for a loan move to Roma instead of returning to Inter, he remains a Chelsea player.
This situation raises the possibility that Chelsea might revisit the idea of sending Lukaku back to Inter in the future.
However, the report suggests that such a move may be futile for Chelsea at the moment, considering their ongoing struggles.
The west London club would likely need a significant improvement in their performance over the next few months before contemplating any negotiations involving Lukaku.