Chelsea's summer transfer window could be significantly boosted by the departures of Romelu Lukaku and Malang Sarr.

The Blues are on the brink of freeing up a little more than PS23million from their wage bill if they can successfully offload the two players. That's after reports emerged suggesting Lukaku is closing in a move to Napoli, while French outfit Lens are set to sign Sarr.

Lukaku, 31, hasn't featured for the Blues since May 2022, though was thought new manager Enzo Maresca might give him another chance in the first team. However, a return to Serie A seems more probable after the player is understood to have agreed personal terms with Napoli.

According to Di Marzio (via The Mirror), the Belgian has given the go-ahead to a three-year deal in Naples worth PS5m per season. That's a significant drop from the PS16.9m he's been earning annually since re-signing for Chelsea in 2021, although he's spent most of his second stint at the club out on loan.

There is the not-so-small matter of the two clubs coming to terms over a transfer fee, however. It's understood the Blues have a PS38m release clause in Lukaku's contract but would be open to selling for PS29.5m.

However, Napoli are said to have baulked at even the reduced fee. Lukaku could be keen on the idea of linking back up with old boss Antonio Conte's, with whom he won a Serie A title while he was on loan at Inter Milan in 2021.

The negotiations could be sped along if Victor Osimhem leaves Napoli as expected this summer, with Chelsea known to be among the clubs interested. Selling the Nigeria international would free up the funds to sign a replacement like Lukaku, but the Italians are still playing hard ball for now.

Sarr's situation is far more straightforward after the former France under-21 has reportedly agreed to terminate his contract a year early ahead of joining Lens. Chelsea have been eager to clear his PS120,000-a-week salary from the wage bill, which was costing them PS6.2m per year.

The 25-year-old was a highly rated prospect when he moved to Stamford Bridge from Nice in the summer of 2020. But the investment has proven to be disastrous, with the defender managing just 21 appearances for the Premier League giants in four years.

Sarr will depart west London with a reputation as one of Chelsea's worst purchases of all time. He managed more appearances on loan at Porto (19) and Monaco (17) than he did for his parent club over the course of four years, and he now returns to his home country hoping to revive a once very promising career.

Maresca has already brought in several new faces this summer, but the club is yet to seal any true star signings. That being said, the impending exits of Lukaku and Sarr could help facilitate some high-profile signings after Chelsea's focus has been on departures in recent weeks.

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