Romelu Lukaku is asking for €10m a season in net wages as Fenerbahce attempt to sign him from Napoli, who are also demanding €10m for the Belgium international.
Negotiations are under way, with Fenerbahce stepping up their efforts to bring the striker to Turkey. The club has held talks with Lukaku’s agent, Federico Pastorello, as it explores the possibility of completing a deal.
However, the two main financial demands currently present a significant obstacle. Lukaku wants an annual salary of €10m after tax, while Napoli are understood to value the transfer at €10m.
Fenerbahce’s proposal so far is reportedly worth only €4m, leaving a €6m gap between the Turkish club’s offer and Napoli’s asking price. Both the player and his current club are therefore looking to resolve the situation, but each is seeking to do so on its own terms.
Reports from Sky Sport Italia, Sportitalia, Fabrizio Romano, Sacha Tavolieri and Yagiz Sabuncuoglu say the discussions are progressing, with Pastorello having met representatives of Fenerbahce.
The striker’s future at Napoli has appeared uncertain for some time. Lukaku played very little last season because of a serious injury and subsequently had a number of disagreements with the club hierarchy over how he was treated.
Those difficulties have contributed to the current expectation that the player will leave the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Napoli are now seeking a fee that reflects their valuation, while Lukaku is asking for a contract that would provide him with €10m in net wages each season.
Fenerbahce are not the only club credited with an interest in the forward. There is also reported attention from clubs in the Saudi Pro League and from Atlanta United in Major League Soccer.
Lukaku, however, is said to prefer remaining in European football. That preference could make Fenerbahce an attractive option if the club can reach an agreement with Napoli over the transfer fee and satisfy the player’s salary demands.
For now, the negotiations remain open. Fenerbahce are pushing to sign Lukaku, but their current €4m offer falls well short of Napoli’s €10m requirement, while the striker’s wage expectations would add another major cost to any potential agreement.
