Romelu Lukaku left Chelsea to join AS Roma on loan in the summer transfer window last year.
The Belgian striker has been a huge hit at the Italian club after scoring 18 goals in 36 appearances for them.
Roma would want to keep hold of the Chelsea striker but they will be unable to match the striker’s asking price set by the Premier League club, according to Telegraph journalist Matt Law.
Roma cannot afford Chelsea striker Lukaku
In conversation with the London Is Blue podcast, Law revealed that the Italian club would find it difficult to pay Lukaku’s £37m price tag unless they qualify for the Champions League.
If that happens, the journalist mentioned, Lukaku could be heading to the Saudi Pro League.
Law believes Roma will not be able to pay for Lukaku in the absence of Champions League football or a significant financial commitment.
He said: he said: “Lukaku has a £37m release in his contract that was amended before the Roma [move]. Now I think Lukaku and Saudi is definitely worth watching because unless Roma qualifies for [the] Champions League or there’s some big investment into Roma, I think Roma will really struggle with the fee on top of the wages.
“So I think Chelsea are probably trying to get their ducks in order with Saudi options for Romelu in case Roma can’t, but they will really be trying to sell him permanently this summer.”
Lukaku is expected to leave Chelsea permanently
Even if the Italian giants would not be able manage the finances around the Lukaku deal, the striker is still expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer in a permanent move.
He has spent the last few seasons out on loan, to either Inter Milan or to AS Roma, which shows the Blues have moved on from him and they want someone else to lead their attack.
The current options available at the club are Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku while club chiefs are also looking to add a new name to the squad.
That new striker could be Brentford’s Ivan Toney or Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.
