Chelsea Transfer News: Major Romelu Lukaku Offer, Latest on Oscar Exit Rumours

Chelsea are reportedly prepared to break the British transfer record in order to sign Everton striker Romelu Lukaku and will bid as high as £68 million for the 23-year-old.

The highest transfer fee paid by a British club is the £59.7 million Manchester United shelled out for Angel Di Maria in 2014, but Chelsea are ready to eclipse that mark to sign Lukaku having had a £57 million bid already rejected by Everton, per Darren Lewis in the Mirror.

Lewis added that the Toffees are not prepared to compromise on their £75 million valuation of Lukaku despite the Belgian wanting to return to Chelsea. The striker left Stamford Bridge for Goodison Park in 2014 for £28 million.

He has thrived at Everton and established himself as one of the most consistent goalscorers in the Premier League, per WhoScored.com:

Given that Chelsea are worryingly short on strikers, Lukaku would be a fine addition to head coach Antonio Conte's squad.

Michy Batshuayi has been added to the group from Olympique de Marseille, but questions remain over No. 1 frontman Diego Costa's future in west London, per MailOnline's Matt Barlow.

Even if Costa does remain at Chelsea this summer, they need added depth in attack, with Conte likely to play two men at the top of his formation, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

The addition of Lukaku would make sense because of his previous experience at Chelsea, his proven ability in the Premier League and his potential to improve further given how young he is.

However, it would be a big risk for Chelsea to shell out £68 million for him, let alone the £75 million Everton are reportedly demanding.

Though he is an abundant goalscorer, Lukaku lacks consistency—he failed to find the net in any of Everton's last nine Premier League games in the 2015-16 season.

He has also been accused of going missing in big matches and squandered a number of gilt-edged chances as Everton lost the FA Cup semi-final to Manchester United in April, per the Mail on Sunday's Gerry Cox.

Chelsea must be confident that he can iron out his deficiencies if they are to break the British transfer record to sign him up.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Meanwhile, Conte will reportedly let Oscar leave Chelsea and join Inter Milan for £30 million because the Italian has not been impressed by the playmaker's work rate since he took over at the club, per Justin Allen in the Sun.

According to Allen, Oscar is seen by Conte as a "luxury player," and with Inter having made enquiries about the 24-year-old, he is prepared to let him leave Stamford Bridge.

The Brazil international only started 20 Premier League games last term and is likely to see fewer minutes in the upcoming season than Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Willian, who can all operate in the No. 10 role.

Given Conte's love for high-energy, hard-working players, it is little surprise he is reportedly prepared to let Oscar go, especially if Chelsea can recoup the £25 million they paid for him four years ago.