Romelu Lukaku reaches point of no return at Napoli as MLS outfit prepare summer bid for Belgian striker

Lukaku is therefore set to leave Napoli in this transfer window, after just two seasons at the club, the last of which was heavily affected by the serious injury he sustained during pre-season.

Club and player want the same thing. Both are heading towards an early parting of ways well before his contract runs out on 30 June 2027. Allegri may be a long-standing admirer of Big Rom, but Napoli's strategy has never wavered: the money spent on Hojlund confirmed the pecking order, and it places Lukaku firmly behind the Dane.

De Laurentiis, though, won't budge. He wants at least €10 million to let the Belgian, who has just turned 33, walk out the door.

Lukaku's hefty contract weighs on Napoli's thinking too. He currently pockets around €11 million gross per season, a figure that hits the club's finances hard and one they cannot justify handing to what is, in reality, only the backup to the designated first-choice centre-forward.

So where will Lukaku play next season? Which club comes next? Europe looks an unlikely answer. For some time now we've noted interest in the Belgian from Saudi Arabia, but above all from MLS, where Atlanta United are pushing to take him to the States. Romelu is drawn to the MLS option, and if the offer from Tata Martino's side comes close to the €10 million De Laurentiis wants, the deal could be wrapped up quickly.