Chelsea have had a huge player-plus-cash bid for Romelu Lukaku rejected by Inter Milan, according to reports. The Blues submitted an offer that included £85million and Marcos Alonso in part-exchange but have been turned down by the Serie A champions.

Lukaku has once again been installed as Chelsea’s top target in the final third with Borussia Dortmund refusing to do business over Erling Haaland.

But the Londoners have had their biggest attempt so far at bringing Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge, after the Belgian three years at the club earlier in his career, snubbed.

Fabrizio Romano tweeted: “Inter have received an approach from Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku. Bid around €100m including Marcos Alonso as part of the negotiation.

“#CFC Inter board turned down the proposal as they want to keep Lukaku – they’ve always considered Romelu as ‘untouchable’. @DiMarzio #Inter.”

Left-back Alonso is out of favour at Chelsea and was absent from the squad that beat Arsenal in a pre-season friendly at the Emirates on Sunday.

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Lukaku however has made it clear previously this summer that he has no desire to leave despite Antonio Conte’s exit, after the Italian led the club to title glory last term.

Under the ex-Chelsea boss, the 28-year-old scored 30 goals and laid on 10 assists in 44 games across all competitions.

Sky Sports News reported on Monday that it will take over £85m (€100m) for Tuchel and co. to prise Lukaku from the Italian giants, but that depends on Inter’s stance easing and the player being open to a move.

But it’s added that the Champions League holders are determined to sign a world-class striker to lead their efforts to win the Premier League in the 2021-22 campaign.

They want Lukaku back seven years after selling him to Everton for £28m, with the Belgium international then joining Manchester United in 2017 for £75m.

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Discussing signings at the weekend, Tuchel hinted that a new midfielder could be signed with West Ham’s Declan Rice and Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni both targets.

Tuchel said: “There’s a minimum one space there because Billy [Gilmour] left us which is good for his personal career and personal development because he was fighting with N’Golo [Kante], Jorginho and Mateo [Kovacic], one of the best midfields in the world.

“He was very helpful in the last season and now he goes on loan to get more minutes. This is how to improve him, it was a good decision.

“He was very important and we have to be careful. We come from a situation when today Kova was on the pitch but N’Golo only 30 minutes. Jorginho is coming back tomorrow.

“So we have to be very careful that we don’t overuse them and we are prepared for maybe little injuries. That is why we are still scouting.”