Serie A club Inter Milan have confirmed that they have made ‘an official approach’ for Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgium international has been heavily linked with a move to the Italain club this summer, but the Old Trafford club have been playing hardball with Inter Milan all summer.
Inter officials travelled to England for talks with United, who reportedly quoted them an asking price of €85m, report Football Italia.
Sporting director Piero Ausilio was among the Nerazzurri’s entourage as they landed back in Milan on Thursday evening.
“We had a meeting with Manchester United for Lukaku,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“It was an official approach between two important clubs. We’ll see what happens. Conte wants every player we’re trying to sign.”
Ausilio then cracked a joke about Nicolo Barella’s imminent arrival from Cagliari…
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has showcased his own tactical formation which is slightly different from his immediate predecessor’s prefered approach.
According to the Evening Standard, last season, under Maurizio Sarri, the Blues stuck to a 4-3-3 formation, as the Italian tried to implement his philosophy. Tactics can, of course, change, but it would appear Lampard is leaning towards 4-2-3-1.
In his first match as manager of Chelsea which was against Bohemia at Dalymount Park in Dublin in a pre-season encounter, he fielded different XIs in each half, but both stuck to the formation. It is a system Lampard used at Derby and its merits for Chelsea were clear.
Going forward, they looked slick and sharp, playing with an attacking intent fans will enjoy. It has thrown up some questions in central midfield, though, which will be answered over the course of pre-season.
Under Sarri, the system always revolved around Jorginho playing at the base of a three-man midfield. Lampard, however, opted for a double pivot of Danny Drinkwater and Ethan Ampadu.
Drinkwater is something of a forgotten man, having played just once last season, but given the fact N’Golo Kante will surely be one of the midfield two this year, could he emerge as an unlikely partner? It worked during Leicester’s march to the title in 2016.
Up front, Michy Batshuayi staked his case to lead the line. His goal was a timely reminder of what he can offer and the Belgian was lively during his 45-minute spell.
Batshuayi never seemed to fit what Sarri or, for that matter, Antonio Conte wanted from a striker, but he could be Lampard’s man, given his ability to run in behind and be a threat in the box.
Batshuayi may have got the goal, but it was the young players who stole the show. Lampard’s desire to blood academy talent was made clear before he was even appointed and this performance showed why he is right, too.
Ampadu, 18, looked composed in the middle, while in Conor Gallagher, 19, and Billy Gilmour, 18, Chelsea have two No10s with real potential. Defenders Ian Maatsen, 17, and Marc Guehi, 18, are worth keeping an eye on, too.
