Juventus are leading the race for Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku after negotiations with Inter Milan failed.

It is believed Romelu Lukaku was ready to listen to Juventus after failing to start for Inter Milan in the Champions League final. Photo: AFP/Raul. Mi

Romelu Lukaku will return to Chelsea on Tuesday — 24 hours after Mauricio Pochettino's team flew to the United States for the club's pre-season tour — Juventus now lead the race for the striker.

< p >It was hoped that a deal for Lukaku's permanent departure from Chelsea would be agreed before he had to report back to the club's Cobham training ground, but that proved impossible.

Inter Milan, who considered favorite to re-sign Lukaku, now considered out of the race entirely after two bids for the Belgian were rejected.

Reports in Italy claimed that Inter were outraged that Lukaku had left the door open for a move to Italian rivals Juventus this summer after spending weeks in talks with Chelsea.

Lukaku finished well last year season at Inter, but was still used as a substitute on a number of occasions and did not set off the Champions League final loss to Manchester City.

This is believed to have contributed to Lukaku's willingness to listen to an offer from Juventus, who ideally want to sell Dušan Vlahović before making a permanent deal with Lukaku.

Selling Vlahović in the first place is not necessarily necessary, and Lukaku and his There are about two and a half weeks of advisors while the Chelsea team is in the US to try to broker a deal with Juventus.

Roc Nation Sports International has responded to reports from Italy that they are considering a breakup with Lukaku, after the collapse of negotiations with Inter, posting on social media the following message: “Fake news and irresponsible reporting must stop. Focus on the facts and the truth.»

It is understood that Roc Nation will continue to work with Lukaku's lawyer Sebastien Ledour and the player's family to ensure the best possible solution for his future.

Chelsea originally asked Lukaku to return last Wednesday, but that was pushed back to Monday to try to give him time to sell. He will now return on Tuesday and train until his future is decided.