Stories linking Romelu Lukaku with a return to Inter Milan this summer persist.
Chelsea are reported to have told the Belgian striker that he can go back to the Serie A club if the finances are right.
However, that may prove to be a major stumbling block.
In the first place, it was their financial position last year which forced them to sell him in the first place.
And, despite Lukaku’s willingness to take a pay cut, his wages may yet prove too great for the Milan side, setting aside the issue of any loan fee that Chelsea may demand for him.
At the same time they are trying to find room in their budget to sign Paolo Dybala who is set to leave Juventus on a free transfer.
The alternative, though, may be equally unpalatable to Thomas Tuchel’s side. To keep round for another season a player that he is unconvinced by and is not a good fit for the style of football that he wants to play.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.