Antonio Conte wants to reunite with Chelsea who were relegated from Napoli

Antonio Conte is already planning a raid on former club Chelsea after returning to football this week as the new man in charge at Napoli.

The player in question is Romelu Lukaku, who remains on the books at Stamford Bridge despite not kicking a ball for the team in just over two years. For Napoli, it will represent a new chapter after acquiring Victor Osimhen before next season.

Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that Conte has linked Lukaku with a reunion before Napoli announced his appointment. The Belgian is considered the “first name” the club will target to strengthen the forward and is described as “a striker always on Antonio Conte's mind”.

Lukaku has a contract with Chelsea until 2026 but is unlikely to be linked under new manager Enzo Maresca. At 31 years of age, he is available for £38m.

Conte has had great success with Lukaku in the past, he was in charge of Inter when the Milan giants agreed to a €80m transfer from Manchester United in 2019. The striker scored 34 goals in all competitions in his first season as Inter reached the Europa League. Finally, ahead of another 30 in 2020/21, a campaign that delivered the club's first Serie A title in 11 years.

But Conte then left the San Siro amid reported disagreements with the sport's management and Lukaku rejoined Chelsea in a deal worth €100m. Neither has reached the same heights since then, Lukaku quickly regretted his departure and returned to Inter on loan, where his numbers were good. The same with Roma last season saw him surpass 20 goals in all competitions but only 13 in Serie A.

Osimhen has been linked with Arsenal in recent days. The Nigerian international's new Napoli contract signed in December includes a release clause that could help him out. But, at £113m, it would be a new club record for the Gunners, surpassing last summer's £105m deal for Declan Rice.

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