The Italian side is trying to sign the Belgium international away from Manchester United
Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio confirmed the Serie A club have made an “official approach” to Manchester United for Romelu Lukaku.
United striker Lukaku has emerged as a transfer target for Inter, who sent officials to England to try to reach a deal for the Belgium international.
The Manchester United striker has made it clear to the club’s hierarchy that he is hopeful of leaving Old Trafford after being told he will not be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-choice striker in 2019-20.
Inter’s new boss Antonio Conte has made the Belgian his prime target in the summer market, having previously targeted the forward at prior clubs.
Lukaku – contracted to the Red Devils until 2022 with the option of a further year – joined United from Everton for £75 million ($94 million) in 2017 and the Premier League giants want to recoup that fee as Inter push for an initial loan deal.
Ausilio arrived back in Milan on Thursday and he told reporters: “We had a meeting with Manchester United for Lukaku.
“It was an official approach between two important clubs. We’ll see what happens.
“All the players we’re following are targets we’ve agreed with Antonio Conte. We want to satisfy his request within certain financial parameters.”
Inter’s push could become more difficult as United are not in any rush to sell the Belgian forward.
Furthermore, the Italian side will have to consider potential Financial Fair Play repercussions if they were to break the bank on the Belgium international, as Manchester United are said to be unwilling to take back a player as a makeweight.
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Lukaku has acknowledged a desire to play in Italy and hinted his future could be away from Old Trafford while acknowledging his admiration for the newly-hired Inter boss Conte.
At Old Trafford, though, he fell down the pecking order as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preferred Marcus Rashford up front as he scored 12 goals last campaign.
The 26-year-old – in Australia for the club’s pre-season tour – scored 15 goals across all competitions as United finished sixth in the Premier League and lost to Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.