When he returned to Stamford Bridge in a £97.5 million transfer last summer, the Belgian became the club's record signing, but he has struggled to live up to that price tag and has fallen out of favor in the second part of the season.
Lukaku sparked controversy with an ill-advised interview in which he expressed his desire to return to Inter, and he has appeared to be a bad stylistic fit for Thomas Tuchel's style of play.
According to The Athletic, the manager-player relationship is 'badly strained,' and there is a sense that Lukaku has no future in west London while Tuchel is in charge.
Inter want to bring the 29-year-old back to San Siro, but they can't afford a permanent deal, so the two clubs are negotiating a loan agreement with a large fee — the Blues are said to demand up to £10 million.
The Italian side's initial offer, which was less than half of that, was rejected, but everyone is optimistic that a deal can be reached.
However, according to The Athletic, the largest remaining stumbling block is Boehly, who has yet to be entirely convinced by the deal.
The American, who led the consortium that bought Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, is unsure whether loaning away last season's top scorer is in the club's best interests, especially because he is under contract until 2026.
Furthermore, Lukaku has developed a 'good connection' with Boehly and remains eager to prove himself at Stamford Bridge — a task that appears to be becoming increasingly tough while Tuchel is in control.
The main driving force behind Lukaku's loan looks to be Chelsea's manager, and what happens to the striker this summer will be a huge reflection of the club's power structure.
Tuchel is rumored to be seeking a more dynamic, high-energy, pressing forward who is more suited to his style of play, with Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, and Christopher Nkunku all being mentioned.
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