Chelsea are looking into the possibility of signing one of three Inter Milan players as part of a deal to loan Romelu Lukaku back to his former team, according to reports.
The Blues splashed out a club-record fee of £97.5m to re-sign Lukaku from Inter Milan last summer, but the transfer has not worked out.
The Belgium international has been a bit-part player since his return to the London club, with Thomas Tuchel often favouring Kai Havertz up front.
Inter are reported 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 claim that Chelsea are exploring whether Lautaro Martinez, Milan Skriniar or Bastoni could be used as ‘counterparts’ in a deal for Lukaku.
Argentina international Martinez netted 25 goals in all competitions last campaign as Inter finished second in Serie A.
Defenders Skriniar and Bastoni, meanwhile, have both been linked with moves away from the Italian club.
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 centre-back Chelsea have been credited with an interest in.
And Thomas Tuchel is currently short on centre-backs due to the departures of both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
