Chelsea have reportedly rejected a proposal from Juventus to swap Romelu Lukaku for Dušan Vlahović.
The Italian club had hoped to bring Lukaku back to Turin, where he spent two seasons from 2017 to 2019, but the Blues are not interested in a swap deal.
Chelsea are said to respect Vlahović as a player, but they are not willing to give up on Lukaku just yet.
The Belgian striker has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge after a disappointing first season back at the club.
He scored just 15 goals in 24 Premier League appearances last term, and his relationship with manager Thomas Tuchel is said to be strained.
Chelsea are open to selling Lukaku, but they are only willing to do so for a significant fee. They are also prepared to let him leave on loan if they can’t find a permanent buyer. Lukaku is said to be open to a move to Saudi Arabia, where he could earn a huge salary.
Juventus are not the only club interested in Lukaku. Inter Milan are also keen on bringing him back to the San Siro, and they could make a move for him in the coming weeks. However, Chelsea are determined to get the best possible deal for Lukaku, and they are in no hurry to sell him.
The situation is still fluid, and it is possible that Chelsea could change their mind about Vlahović.
However, for now, it seems that the Blues are not interested in a swap deal. They are determined to get the best possible value for Lukaku, and they are willing to wait until the right offer comes in.