Inter Milan are due to hold talks with Manchester United in London on Thursday as they bid to thrash out a deal for wantaway striker Romelu Lukaku.

Piero Ausilio, Inter’s sporting director, will meet with United officials after flying into the capital.

Inter are likely to propose an initial two year loan worth about £9 million with an obligation to buy at the end of that term for a further £53.7 million.

United sources have indicated they want a straight cash deal and will not entertain an initial loan proposal.

But Inter’s hopes of being able to meet the Manchester club’s £75 million valuation is likely to hinge on them offloading Argentina striker Mauro Icardi, who is attracting interest from Juventus.

Lukaku has not publicly voiced his desire to leave Old Trafford, unlike team mate Paul Pogba, and has remained respectful, even reporting two days early for pre-season, but he is eager to join Inter and play under Antonio Conte, who has made him feel wanted.

Unlike Pogba, Lukaku has not publicly voiced his desire to leave Old Trafford credit: GETTY IMAGES

That contrasts to the way Lukaku feels about his treatment under United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over the past six months. Solskjaer has held talks with Lukaku since United returned for pre-season and has launched something of a charm offensive at a time when United are struggling to bolster their attacking options but the Belgian has regarded it as too little, too late.

Lukaku felt he was cast aside when Solskjaer took over and installed Marcus Rashford as his first choice centre forward and favoured an attack featuring Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard.

He also believes little attempt was made to dampen talk about him leaving and feels his career would be best suited by a move to Inter as the 26-year-old prepares to enter what he feels will be his peak years.