Chelsea are reportedly looking into the possibility of recruiting one of three Inter Milan players as part of a deal to loan Romelu Lukaku back to his former club.
The Blues splashed out a club-record fee of £97.5million to re-sign Lukaku from Inter last summer, but the move has not worked out.
The Belgium international has been a bit-part player since his return to Stamford Bridge, with Thomas Tuchel often favouring Kai Havertz up front.
Inter are said to want to bring the 29-year-old back to San Siro and a loan move, including a loan fee of around £20m, could be on the cards.
Now, Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport report that Chelsea are exploring whether Lautaro Martinez, Milan Skriniar or Alessandro Bastoni could be used as ‘counterparts’ in a deal for Lukaku.
Argentina international Martinez netted 25 goals across all competitions last season as Inter finished second in Serie A.
Defenders Skriniar and Bastoni, meanwhile, have both been linked with moves away from San Siro.
Addressing speculation regarding his future, Bastoni said: ‘I am an Inter player. I have a two-year contract with Inter.
‘The club has not communicated anything to me. I go on vacation after the national team, and then I start again with Inter.’
Sevilla defender Jules Kounde is another player Chelsea have been credited with an interest in.
Thomas Tuchel is currently short on centre-backs due to the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
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