Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Manchester United have not had the most successful of transfer windows so far as a number of potential targets have rebuffed any potential move to Old Trafford. A long list of players which includes the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Gareth Bale and Harry Kane have all rebuffed a move to Manchester.
But the tide finally seems to be turning as the club have had a £75m bid for Romelu Lukaku accepted by the Belgian’s current club Everton. Not only could this be the capture of a top striker with Premier League experience but it also would mean that Jose Mourinho has got one over his former club Chelsea.
With the fact that Everton had all but accepted the fact that Lukaku was set to move on from Goodison Park this summer it was felt that it would then lead to a return to Stamford Bridge and linking up with Antonio Conte and the current Premier League champions.
But it now seems that United have got the march on Chelsea and a move for Lukaku could see him wearing Red instead of Blue next season. Although the offer has been accepted the club still have to agree personal terms with the forward but that should not be all that much of an issue.
Whether now this wakes Chelsea up and they prepare a bid of their own remains to be seen, what arguably has held them up is the fact that Diego Costa has been dragging his heels in regards to departing West London and that has slowed down any potential move for Lukaku.
With this news that Everton’s Romelu Lukaku could be set for a move to Manchester United it does however mean that Alvaro Morata will not be moving with the Europa League winners ending their interest in the 24 year old Spanish international.
This was another move that was stuck in the mud as the reported quoted price from the Champions League winners kept changing and neither team was willing to budge. With Los Blancos wanting a fee near to £75m themselves it was weighed up that it would be better to opt for Lukaku instead.
The reason behind that would be that Lukaku already has a whole host of Premier League experience and will not have to readjust to a new league and readjust quickly for that matter, therefore a move for the Belgian is seen as better value and carries less perceived risk.
With Everton linked with bringing Wayne Rooney to Goodison Park the two deals will be treated as separate and there will be nothing in the way of a player plus cash deal which would see the two players change directions this summer.
For Rooney it does seem as this is ultimately the end game for his stint in Manchester, with rumours of a move to Everton heating up then the smart money would be for Rooney to once again done the colours of Everton next season.
As for United though they have been linked with so many players already over the course of this transfer window that their will be something of a relief as they look to have finally landed the marquee signing that they have been looking for.
