Chelsea and Napoli agree deal worth up to £38m for Romelu Lukaku, 31, more than two years after his last appearance for the Blues

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Chelsea and Napoli have found agreement over the sale of Romelu Lukaku following positive talks on Friday. 

Positive talks have been held this week and the 31-year-old Belgian, one of those in the Blues' 'bomb squad' available for sale, could soon be reunited with his former head coach Antonio Conte.

The Italian side have agreed to pay £26m plus £12m in add-ons for the 31-year-old who will sign a three year contract to link up once again with Conte. 

Said to be closer than ever to the exit, there has been a willingness to finalise the deal on all sides after negotiations in London.

The deal will see Lukaku represent a new Serie A club after spending the last two seasons on loan in Italy. He was at Inter Milan in 2022-23, and Roma in 2023-24.

Romelu Lukaku (left) is set to be reunited with manager Antonio Conte (right) at Napoli following their previous success at Inter Milan

Thirty-one-year-old Belgium striker Lukaku pictured at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer

Chelsea previously paid Inter £97.5m to sign Lukaku in August 2021. He scored 15 goals in 44 games in the 2021-22 season. He has not played for the Stamford Bridge club since May 2022.

Chelsea have been keen to sell Lukaku permanently this summer rather than sanctioning yet another loan, and Conte is keen to work with him again following their time together at Inter.

Napoli started their season with a 3-0 loss to Verona last weekend.

Chelsea have also shown serious interest in Napoli's Victor Osimhen this summer and they remain in the market for a new striker.

Head coach Enzo Maresca admitted as much after their Conference League win over Servette on Thursday, saying: 'If we have the chance to bring in a nine that can help us and make the difference, then we are going to try.' 

Chelsea are expected to step up their interest in Osimhen once Lukaku's sale is finalised.

Lukaku has not played for Chelsea since 2022 and he spent the last two seasons out on loan

Once Lukaku is sold, Chelsea could step up their pursuit of Napoli forward Victor Osimhen

However, there are plenty of other players that Chelsea want to move on before the transfer window closes. 

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who cost £72m, is on around £200,000 per week and for a loan to work the 29-year-old would need to extend his contract by at least a year but on a reduced wage.

Another Chelsea keeper, Djordje Petrovic, has turned down the prospect of moving to Strasbourg.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest defender Murillo is on Chelsea's radar if Trevoh Chalobah, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile all leave.

Maresca has said on player sales: 'There is one week left of the transfer window, hopefully we can find solutions for all of them.

'When you find solutions, everyone is happy. When you don't find a solution, then you can create some problems.'