Antonio Conte wants £38 million Chelsea ace this summer, player wants move to Napoli

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC understands that new Napoli boss Antonio Conte is keen on adding a 68-goal Premier League centre-forward to his team.

Antonio Conte has been out of work since his departure from Tottenham Hotspur but the Italian is back in management at Italian side Napoli.

After winning the Serie A title in the 2022/23 season under Luciano Spalletti, Napoli struggled in the league in the following season and have turned to Conte to rectify this problem.

Conte is keen on a new striker and HITC understands that Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku is the man that the Italian wants in Naples and the feeling is understood to be mutual.

Conte wants Lukaku

Sources have confirmed that Conte, as part of his talks to join Napoli, told the club’s hierarchy that he wanted Lukaku and he was told that the Belgian was already on their radar.

Lukaku spent last season on loan at AS Roma, where he bagged more than 20 goals for the club. The Belgian has had a previous spell under Conte at Inter Milan and he was superb under the Italian.

Lukaku’s future looks to be in Serie A. Roma were keen to renew his loan, but Chelsea insist that he needs to leave permanently and they want his release clause, understood to be around £38 million, met.

AC Milan are understood to have also enquired but Napoli are in pole position with Lukaku looking to link up again with Conte.

Lukaku drops Conte hint

The relationship between Lukaku and Conte has always looked to be a special one and the Belgian forward confirmed as much in an interview with Belgian outlet Het Laase Nieuws.

When asked what would be a deciding factor for a summer move, Lukaku said: “What will affect my future? My relationship with the coach. It’s like a relationship with a woman. If it doesn’t work anymore, why stay together?”

Lukaku was then asked to name the best coach he has played under during his illustrious career, the Belgian replied: “Antonio Conte.”

During Lukaku’s time at Inter under Conte, the Belgian scored 47 goals in two Serie A seasons under the Italian and he looks set for a second spell under the 54-year-old.