Although there has been limited movement so far, it is expected to change soon, as funds need to be generated by June 30 to balance the accounts for the financial year. Manager Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly eager to sign a new goalkeeper to secure the number one spot, which could lead to the sale of either Kepa Arrizabalaga or Edouard Mendy.
If reports are accurate, Onana and AC Milan's Mike Maignan are Chelsea's preferred goalkeeper options, with suggestions that personal terms may have already been agreed with Onana. Onana played a crucial role in Inter's journey to the recent Champions League final, where they were defeated by Manchester City. While it was previously expected that Onana would remain at San Siro, the need to address other squad issues for the upcoming 2023-24 season could create room for a potential transfer, which Chelsea seems eager to exploit.
According to The Sun, Chelsea has communicated to Inter that they are willing to include Lukaku and Koulibaly in any offer for Onana. Lukaku, who just completed a season on loan at his former club, had an improved second half of the campaign, contributing 14 goals and seven assists. Inter President Steven Zhang has acknowledged that further discussions with Chelsea will take place, although finding a resolution that satisfies all parties may pose a challenge.
On the other hand, Koulibaly struggled for consistency in his first season at Chelsea and is not expected to be Pochettino's first-choice defender in a season focused on domestic fixtures. Given Inter's potential need for an experienced defender due to the departure of Milan Skriniar and the likely exit of Stefan de Vrij, Koulibaly could be a valuable addition.
While Chelsea's valuation of Koulibaly remains unclear, they reportedly paid around £33m for his services less than a year ago and are unlikely to significantly reduce that fee, given their firm stance in negotiations with other players.
