Chelsea's Loss of £37m Looms as Roma Sacks Mourinho and Questions Arise Over Secret Transfer Agreement

Chelsea may find themselves grappling with the aftermath of Jose Mourinho’s departure from Roma, as reports suggest a secret deal between the Serie A club and the Blues could impact their striker Romelu Lukaku. The Italian side recently ended Mourinho’s two-and-a-half-year tenure after a string of disappointing performances, appointing club legend Daniele de Rossi as the interim manager.

The consequences of this move might reverberate for Chelsea, especially concerning Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Roma. Mourinho played a pivotal role in bringing the Belgian striker to Stadio Olimpico last summer. While there is no public confirmation of a future permanent deal, The Sun reports that Roma and Chelsea had negotiated a £37 million purchase option for the 30-year-old.

However, with De Rossi taking the reins, the reported deal for Lukaku’s permanent transfer could be in jeopardy. The specifics of how the World Cup winner plans to utilize the forward remain unclear. Lukaku has been a standout performer for Roma, scoring 14 goals in all competitions and emerging as the team’s leading scorer this season. He has been a consistent presence, missing only one league match due to suspension.

Roma’s recent struggles have seen them drop to ninth place in the Serie A table, but they are still within reach of a top-four spot, trailing by just five points. As they prepare to face Verona in their upcoming league fixture on Saturday evening, the uncertainty surrounding Lukaku’s future under the new interim management adds an additional layer of intrigue to the situation.