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.
James
Guest
Mourinho does but he has never really wanted a job as much as he has wanted the Manchester United one. He has been sending sweet nothings for at least a decade, i think he wants to stay at Old Trafford for quite a while.
Shanith de Mel
Roar Rookie
Agreed R King, there is no guarantee of success, but isn't any big-money move the same? With Lukaku and all the other reinforcements that United have bought and are looking to buy, I would argue that their target this season would be a title challenge; anything less would seem like setting the bar too low. I would argue that at 75-100 million, both the fan and the United hierarchy would have differing opinions on what "good value" would entail, but anything outside the Top 4 and a round of 16 Champions League place, and expect question to be asked of Mourinho.
R King
Guest
Nothing is confirmed yet, regardless of the 'rumours' that it's a done deal. It's a lot of money with no guarantees of success. The 'Special Happy One' is once again seeking to reinforce his position as the top dog in the EPL and has the money to make it happen. Lets see how this pans out in the long run, if Man U do finish in the Top 4 many of their supporters will say it was worth it, but if he doesn't gell the team together expect to see a rapid departure, and he has a history of getting the job done early, only for it the fall apart in seasons two/three.