Lukaku expected in Milan 'this evening' ahead of Inter return: CEO

Asked when the Belgium striker would be in Milan by reporters on his way out of an Italian Football Federation meeting in Rome, Marotta said "this evening, I think" while getting into a car. He refused to answer whether free agent Paulo Dybala would be coming to Inter as that transfer has reportedly stalled while the club try to offload players in order to accommodate the Argentina forward.

Lukaku is expected to undergo a medical on Wednesday before making his long-awaited Inter comeback official, after Chelsea agreed to a reported deal in which Inter will pay an initial eight million euros (EUR8.42 million) plus a further potential three million in bonuses for the loan. The 29-year-old will again lead Inter's attack as they attempt to regain the Serie A title after taking a pay cut to a reported 8.5 million euros for the coming campaign.

Lukaku leaves London after failing to make an impression for a second time at Chelsea, not meeting high expectations following a £97.5 million move from Inter last summer. He had made himself a fan favourite over two years at Inter after scoring 64 times in 95 games and driving them to their first Serie A title in over a decade, the 2021 Scudetto ending both an 11-year drought and Juventus' grip on Italian football.

However the financial problems of Inter's owners the Suning Group, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic led to coach Antonio Conte leaving the club almost as soon as the title was won. He claimed the cost cutting required by Inter would have prevented him building the team he wanted to challenge domestically and in Europe.