In the last few hours, it has been all but confirmed that Everton and Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku will shortly be a Manchester United player after a British record transfer.
The 75 million pound deal (potentially rising to a world-record 100 million with add-on fees) would smash the previous record of a transfer between two English clubs, which is currently Fernando Torres’ 50 million move to Chelsea in 2011 from Liverpool.
Having been linked strongly with Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata for a huge part of the current window, United have made a spectacular U-turn to have a provisional agreement for Lukaku, with a fee easily larger than what they would have paid for the Madridista.
(AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
This comes days after reports emerged of a furious Jose Mourinho, after promises to have all of United’s major transfer activity (including the signing of a top-class striker) were seemingly not fulfilled by chairman Ed Woodward in time for their pre-season tour this week.
But that has all changed, with the quickfire signing of Lukaku both meeting Mourinho’s deadline and ensuring that rivals Chelsea (who had been odds-on to re-sign the Belgian) would be left to rue their bad luck.
The deal was confirmed almost simultaneously by United and Lukaku on social media, with the burly former Anderlecht forward releasing a quirky teaser clip with soon-to-be teammate Paul Pogba to break the news.
United were quick to announce their happy news to fans, noting however that the deal was still pending on the agreement of a contract and a medical, due in the next 24 hours.
For both the striker and his new team, this is a great deal (at least on paper); Lukaku will get to test his talents in the Champions League and progress to the next level having outgrown Everton. United gain a proven goalscorer to potentially push them to the title- and the glory they have missed since the end of the Fergie era.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Coventry fought back from 3-nil down and looked to have stolen a stunning win in extra time, only for the goal to be ruled…
Manchester United have survived one of the most astonishing FA Cup semi-final comebacks to beat second-tier Coventry City 4-2 on penalties after a chaotic…
Erik ten Hag hopes Manchester United's nail-biting last-eight win over arch-rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup can prove the turning point in a challenging…
Phil Foden has led Manchester City's fightback - even despite an astonishing miss by Erling Haaland - as the champions beat Manchester United 3-1…
Arsenal remain just two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after trouncing Newcastle 4-1 to continue their rich vein of form. Rebounding quickly from…
Watching Manchester United trip, stumble and struggle in English Premier League football is compellingly appealing, satisfying and almost comical for those of us who…
