Juventus ready to give up on Chelsea hitman

keep

Serie A champions Juventus are reportedly set to abandon plans to pursue Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.

Italian source Tutto Mercato Web claims the Turin giants have been running the rule over the Belgium international as they are impressed by the physical presence he can offer in the final third of the pitch.

However, Juve are believed to be keen to land the 21-year-old on a permanent basis, while Chelsea are, according to the report, only willing to let him leave on loan.

The towering targetman has been farmed out to clubs twice since 2012, spending a term at West Bromwich Albion before joining Everton for the entire 2013-14 campaign.

He scored 18 goals in 35 appearances during his time at Goodison Park, grabbing the attention of Juve scouts.

TMW reveal Juve head coach Antonio Conte is now ready to move on to other targets due to the west London club’s reluctance to sell Lukaku.

Veteran free agents Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o remain on the radar, although the Italians have been knocked back by Drogba on several occasions already this summer.

Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata is also an option, but the La Liga heavyweights are yet to offer concrete encouragement that they are willing to do business.