Chelsea owner Todd Boehly shows his power in transfer market by finalising first deal
Todd Boehly has already proved he has great power in the transfer market, as his relationship
with Roc Nation has contributed to Romelu Lukaku 's return to Inter Milan.
Despite only re-signing for Chelsea last summer, The Blues have reached an agreement with Inter
that will see Lukaku return to the Serie A side on loan.
Inter will pay a fee of £6.87million plus add-ons, with salary and performance bonuses
also accepted.
Lukaku has been linked with an exit ever since he delivered a brutal interview with Sky Italia
in December, stating how he would like to return to Inter after questioning Thomas Tuchel's
tactics.
But it appears that Chelsea's new owners were already close with Lukaku's representatives,
helping a deal get over the line.
Less than a year ago Lukaku became Chelsea's record signing, as the Belgian returned to
Stamford Bridge citing 'unfinished business' in a deal worth £97.5m.
But Chelsea fans would probably turn back time and undo the business now if they had
the choice.
Lukaku is represented by Roc Nation, a company founded by Jay-Z back in 2008, and the Belgian
became their first ever Premier League client.
And it can be a small world sometimes, as Chelsea's new American owner Boehly are seemingly
very close with Michael Yormark - president of Roc Nation.
When Lukaku signed Chelsea were doing just fine with former owner Roman Abramovich, that
was until the Russian saw his hand forced after his alleged ties to Vladimir Putin led
to him being sanctioned.
After a long process, Chelsea were taken over by an American group, with co-owner Boehly
fronting the takeover.
Abramovich was never afraid to dip his hand into his pockets, as seen with the Lukaku
transfer.
And Chelsea fans were apprehensive about Boehly's intentions seeing as the club hadn't seen
a change of ownership since 2004.
But the American has already shown his power by being key to Lukaku's return to Inter,
and he's set to hand Tuchel a sizeable budget too.
Chelsea aren't the only big six club to have American owners, but this unique relationship
puts them apart from the rest.
It's been a disastrous return for Lukaku, who started life so brightly after scoring
inside just 15 minutes against Arsenal after making his second debut.
But injury soon kept him out, before his infamous interview caused problems at the club.
"I am sorry for the upset I have caused," Lukaku told Chelsea TV in a bid to atone for
his error.
But it appears the damage was already done after Lukaku admitted: "The second year after
we won the Scudetto, I went to speak with club chiefs and asked for a new contract.
"But they didn't want to extend my contract, the possibility wasn't there.
It was tough for me to accept, because in my head I told myself that I would be able
to do a few more years in Milan.
"The fact that they didn't try to make me sign a new contract bothered me a bit, it
hurt me even.
If Inter offered me a new contract, I would have stayed 100 per cent.
That goes without saying."
Although it hasn't quite been the way Lukaku would have anticipated it, the Belgian has
managed to return to Inter while being paid a larger salary due to his Chelsea contract.
But the damage caused while doing so may hurt him in the long run.