Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte has said that Romelu Lukaku would help the Serie A team help improve the team and would be an "important player" if he signed.

Speculation has surrounded the future of the Belgian international this summer with reports suggesting that a bid of €70 million (£63 million) has already been made to Manchester United for his services.

The 26-year-old joined the Red Devils in 2017 for a fee believed to have initially been over €80 million (£75 million) from Everton and has scored 28 goals in 66 Premier League appearances for the club.

When asked if he was frustrated by the lack of progress to securing Lukaku's signature, the Inter boss, Antonio Conte said, "frustrated is a big word. Lukaku is United's player and this is the reality."

Conte had been the manager at Chelsea from 2016 to 2018 and says he wanted Lukaku to return to Stamford Bridge after he had been sold during Jose Mourinho's second spell with the club, he said "you know very well, I like this player. But also in the past, when I was Chelsea's coach and I tried to bring him to Chelsea, but today Lukaku is a player with United. I have great respect for United.

"I consider him an important player for us to have a good improvement. We know which is our situation; we will see what happens."

Inter Milan take on Manchester United in a pre-season game in Singapore tomorrow with the Belgian international ruled out. However, the Red Devils could be bolstered by the return of goalkeeper David de Gea and 24-year-old Luke Shaw.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, "I think both will be available. Luke did a decent training session yesterday before we left, and David trained today, so we'll try to get 60 or longer out of him. It shouldn't be too difficult - he's a 'keeper."