Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku will not be travelling on their pre-season tour in the United States, talkSPORT understands.
Lukaku enters the summer off the back of his season-long loan at Inter Milan from the Blues.
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All signs seemed to point to a permanent switch back to the Champions League finalists ahead of the new campaign.
However, after discovering that advisors working on behalf of Lukaku had secret talks with Juventus, Inter have pulled out of the race.
The Turin side are now frontrunners to sign the striker, who is keen to leave Chelsea this summer.
His future is now in limbo having turned down a move to Saudi Arabia and Juventus needing to sell Dusan Vlahovic to finance a move.
Lukaku’s current club Chelsea travel to the USA on Monday for their pre-season tour, but he won’t be joining them.
He looks set to leave just two years after completing his return to the club, one that saw his relationship with the fans deteriorate after an unsanctioned interview with Sky Italia.
The Belgian international claimed he wanted to return to Inter after just four months back at Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku then went back to the San Siro but could now be heading for Juventus’ Allianz Stadium instead.
Chelsea, without Lukaku, will play five friendlies in the United States, with the Hollywood inspired Wrexham their first opponents.
They will then face Brighton, Newcastle and Fulham in the Premier League Summer Series before a final test against Borussia Dortmund.
With the arrivals of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea have enough attacking cover should Lukaku leave.
Armando Broja has also returned from long-term injury as the Blues eye a significant improvement on last season.
