Manchester City interested in Inter Milan star ahead of the summer window

Inter Milan's Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku (L) celebrates with Inter Milan's Argentine forward Lautaro Martinez (R) after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A football match beetween Inter Milan and Benevento, on January 30, 2021 at the Meazza stadium, in Milan. (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
Inter Milan's Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku (L) celebrates with Inter Milan's Argentine forward Lautaro Martinez (R) after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A football match beetween Inter Milan and Benevento, on January 30, 2021 at the Meazza stadium, in Milan. (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)

According to a report from the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City are interested in signing Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku in the summer transfer window.

Romelu Lukaku, 27, has further enhanced his status as one of Europe’s top strikers since joining Inter Milan from Manchester United in the summer of 2019. The Belgium international has been in sparkling form this season, registering 19 goals and seven assists in 26 Serie A appearances, as Inter Milan aim to end Juventus’ long reign at the top of Italian football.

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Forging a strong partnership with Lautaro Martinez, Lukaku has netted 59 goals in his 85 appearances for Inter Milan. The 27-year-old’s hot goalscoring form has also caught the attention of Spanish giants Barcelona; however, the ‘Nerazzurri’ have indicated their star striker is not for sale this summer, the report adds.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s apparent interest in recruiting a striker during the summer transfer window makes complete sense. Sergio Aguero, 32, is set to become a free agent when his contract at the Etihad Stadium expires in a few months’ time. The Argentinean, who is City’s all-time leading goalscorer with 257 goals in 384 games, has missed a lot of football over the last couple of seasons due to recurrent injuries and fitness problems.

The 32-year-old has netted just three times through 14 appearances across all competitions this season, which highlights the striker’s massive dip in productivity in front of the goal for Pep Guardiola’s side. As things stand, Manchester City are yet to offer Aguero a new contract.

Gabriel Jesus has been in and out of the team this season, failing to step up in the absence of Aguero. The Brazilian is a good striker but he’s still not ready to fill the big boots of the potentially departing Aguero. Given Aguero’s class and reputation in the Premier League, he won’t be an easy player to replace and Pep Guardiola would want someone that can come in and make an immediate impact at the club, someone like Ruben Dias has this season.

That makes Romelu Lukaku the right fit at the Etihad Stadium. Lukaku is operating at the peak of his powers, scoring goals left, right and centre for Inter and Belgium. The 27-year-old is a proven Premier League commodity, having scored plenty of goals for West Brom, Everton and Manchester United. Thus, the Big Belgian could be the answer to City’s lack of a top goalscorer next season.