{"id":1091994,"date":"2019-06-04T12:15:10","date_gmt":"2019-06-04T11:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1091994"},"modified":"2025-05-21T08:56:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T07:56:50","slug":"transfer-news-gossip-lukaku-man-utd-de-ligt","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/transfer-news-gossip-lukaku-man-utd-de-ligt\/","title":{"rendered":"Lukaku to get his Serie A dream? Key stats, facts and quotes behind the latest transfer news"},"content":{"rendered":"

The summer transfer window is underway with teams all across Europe looking to strengthen their squads ahead of the 2019\/20 campaign. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Usual culprits Chelsea will largely be out of the conversation thanks to their transfer ban but will still be vulnerable to player sales, while the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City will look to recover from disappointing European campaigns in the only way they know how \u2013 spend, spend, spend.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7278637-klopp-must-solve-wenger-s-dilemma-to-take-liverpool-forward<\/p>\n

And what of those looking to break into the European places in their respective leagues? Or the newly-promoted sides aiming to consolidate their place in the top flight? The cash is certain to flow.<\/p>\n

Here at Squawka, we’ve compiled a list of the hottest transfer rumours in football right now and graded how likely they are to happen.<\/p>\n

Read on for the key stats, facts and quotes behind this week\u2019s transfer news.<\/p>\n

1. Romelu Lukaku (from Manchester United to Inter Milan)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What’s the story? <\/strong>Since joining his best mate Paul Pogba at Manchester United in 2017, things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Romelu Lukaku. On the surface, his 42 goals in 96 games looks like a very decent return but in truth, a mixture of poor touch and bad luck means Lukaku has rarely been first choice at Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set for a summer revamp of his squad and reports in Italy<\/a> suggest the Norwegian could offload Lukaku to Inter to free up some funds.<\/p>\n

Key stat: <\/strong>Lukaku won 93 aerial duels in the Premier League last season, bettered only by Chris Smalling (102) among Man Utd players.<\/p>\n

Key quotes: <\/strong>Over the years, Lukaku has never made a secret of his desire to one day play in Serie A and back in April, he revealed he wanted to make his ‘dream move sooner rather than later’.<\/p>\n

“Playing in Serie A is a dream, it would be really a dream,” he told Sky Italia<\/a>. “I hope to be able to play sooner or later, even if at the moment I am focused on the United.”<\/p>\n

Could it happen? <\/strong>According to reports, Inter must raise \u00a340m to meet financial fair play rules if they wish to bring Lukaku to the San Siro but in Mauro Icardi, Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic (among others), they have plenty of sellable assets. United, meanwhile, have slapped a \u00a362m price-tag on Lukaku but should Inter move on a couple of their star players this summer, this could be a match made in heaven.<\/p>\n

2. Kieran Trippier (from Spurs to Juventus)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What’s the story? <\/strong>Maurizio Sarri looks set to switch Chelsea for Juventus and if reports are to be believed, he wants Kieran Trippier to accompany him on the flight from London to Turin. The 28-year-old was one of the heroes of England’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, creating more chances than any other player at the tournament (24) and scoring that <\/em>goal against Croatia. However, he has been sub-par for Spurs this season and Sky Sports<\/a> are now reporting that Juve could move for him to replace Joao Cancelo, who has been linked with a move away.<\/p>\n

Key stat: <\/strong>Trippier provided 19 successful corners\/crosses at the 2018 World Cup, seven more than second-placed Kevin De Bruyne.<\/p>\n

Key quotes: <\/strong>Trippier himself has admitted he has not been good enough for Spurs this season, telling Sky Sports<\/a>: “If the manager selects me to play, I will always give everything I can. Everybody makes mistakes – I have made plenty this season but I am the one to own up to them.<\/p>\n

“I have had plenty of interviews about my performances this season and it has not been good at all. I am the first one to say that.”<\/p>\n

These comments have since sparked speculation that Trippier could be willing to leave White Hart Lane, with Juve the favourites ahead of Italian rivals, Napoli.<\/p>\n

Could it happen? <\/strong>Trippier has expressed a desire to remain in England, while Mauricio Pochettino is notoriously loyal to his players. A move to Italy would certainly be interesting to watch for the set-piece specialist but even with Spurs spending money this summer, they’re not in a position to allow a player of his quality to leave.<\/p>\n