That's according to talkSPORT's Simon Jordan, who says claiming £20million back from the Italian giants for the flopped striker would be a good deal.
Inter Milan are reportedly in talks with Chelsea over a loan deal to take the Belgian international back to Serie A, just one year after leaving the San Siro for west London in a whopping £97.5m deal.
Lukaku scored 15 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea last season and has been vocal about a possible return to Inter.
The 29-year-old is hoping the clubs can thrash out a deal, but Jordan has insisted Chelsea shouldn't let their record signing go on the cheap - insisting Inter should pay a £20m loan fee and pay all of his wages.
"It's interesting that they are going to put him out on loan and want a £20m loan fee because it means they can keep him on their balance sheet and still demand money for him," explained the White and Jordan host.
"If he costs £97.5m, the player is depreciating in value by £20m a year. So if Chelsea can keep him on their balance sheet and put him out on loan and get £20m for him, they are actually making a monetary transaction that makes financial sense."
Lukaku was prolific during his two-year stint in Serie A, scoring 64 goals in 95 appearances and leading Inter to the Serie A title in 2021 - but Jordan was not overly impressed due to it being an 'easier' league to score goals in.
Jordan said: "Of course if he goes off to Inter Milan, where a lot of people say is a far easier league to score goals in, they might find themselves in a situation where Inter have cleared their decks, because don't forget, the reason why Antonio Conte left is because they didn't have any dough and they wanted to be able to capitalise on sales.
"In 18 months time or a year's time, Inter might then find themselves in a better position and Chelsea might be able to punt Lukaku out for £70m or £80m, and they will actually make money from a transaction.
"So from a footballing point of view, if Tuchel doesn't want him then it's a no-brainer, he's got to go.
"From a financial point of view this deal is a no-brainer. Ultimately they're getting their money back from Inter for what they paid for the player.
"So all of these things make sense if the player is not going to get his head on."
Jordan also criticised Lukaku's output since giving an interview to Sky Italia earlier this year, explaining his frustration at Chelsea and talking up the prospect of returning to Inter.
"Since that ridiculous interview he did with Sky Italia, which they held in the bank and dropped it at the best moment so they could get the maximum amount of exposure on, the player didn't respond," added the former Crystal Palace owner.
"He responded to the fact he made himself look like a fool, and that he needed to deal with the manager and the disappointment, but he hasn't responded on the pitch, which is the key territory. So what are you holding on to him for?
"He doesn't look fit, he doesn't look interested, he doesn't look motivated to play for Chelsea, so the only reason he's there is for an economic transaction.
"I think they should get rid of Lukaku because he hasn't done what he was brought in for. He's not a young player developing, he's not a foreign player coming over to England and learning the league.
"He's already made his position clear, he's already virtue signalled his way back to the Italian fans by telling them, 'I would like to come home one day' - well, off you go then, we'll send you there in a cab!
"Chelsea will be looking to get as much as they can for him, but if they can get £20m as a loan fee and he still holds value on your books, that's a decent transaction.
"And how much of his wages should Inter pay? The lot! Inter will have to agree to that, because they are getting Lukaku without any major cash flow up front. Yes, he's supposedly on £325,000-a-week, but that's the reality of football.
"But is he finished at Chelsea? I think so."