Double blow – Chelsea trailing in race for Moroccan star while prolific target is set for Serie A stay

Transfer News: Chelsea set to lose out on Inter Milan duo Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Daily Star), Chelsea transfer targets Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku are not expected to be at Stamford Bridge next summer.

Reece James is an exciting young full-back but he is still not a pinned starter. Inter, on the other hand, want to balance their books in the summer transfer window.

This is why Chelsea were targeting the Moroccan right-back and the ex-Chelsea striker, who has scored 30 goals for Inter this season. But as it stands, Chelsea are set to miss out on both of them. (h/t Daily Star)

PSG have nearly beaten the Blues in the race for Hakimi with a £69m transfer offer being at an ‘advanced stage’. And this is believed to impact Inter’s transfer strategy regarding Belgian frontman, Lukaku.

Double blow

After selling Hakimi, Inter would look to sell only fringe players, which obviously excludes Lukaku. Their new manager, Simone Inzaghi, is also reportedly set to hold talks with the 28-year-old in order to get him to stay.

This news comes as a blow to the Blues because are two positions the club needs strengthening in. James is young and still has a long way to go before sealing his place down that right-hand side.

As for the striker situation, it seems far worse with Timo Werner not firing and both Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham struggling to get game-time. The latter was even left out of the matchday squads for both the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals.

More Chelsea News:

• Chelsea Transfer News: Erling Haaland hints he is open to a move
• Transfer News: Emerson Palmieri could join Napoli
• Chelsea will have to break transfer record and wage structure to sign Romelu Lukaku

Someone like Lukaku, who knows the league well and has already played for Chelsea in the past, would have been a great fit for Thomas Tuchel. The club can perhaps do without a right wing-back but signing a striker seems imperative.