LONG ARM OF THE MOUR » Lukaku: Jose will axe United flops » Ruthless boss to bring in top stars » We haven’t been good enough at times

ROMELU LUKAKU has insisted that Jose Mourinho will spend big this summer to put Manchester United back on title track.

A wind of change is already in the air after United’s embarrassing Champions League last-16 exit at the hands of Sevilla.

And that is bad news for some United stars, with Mourinho reaching the conclusion that he needs to make key changes to a squad he acknowledges isn’t good enough to compete with the Champions League big boys or hunt down cross-town rivals Manchester City next season.

With eight games to go, United are still on course for their best Premier League finish in the five seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson signed off his 27-year stint as manager with the League title in 2013. The FA Cup also gives Mourinho the chance to win more silverware after banking three trophies in his last campaign — the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League.

But, in terms of the big prizes, critics believe United are miles away from a return to the days when they regularly appeared in Champions League finals and were typically favourites to win the Premier League.

It’s not a view shared by £75million Belgium attacker Lukaku, who believes predictions painting United as also-rans in the coming seasons are way off the mark.

Lukaku said: “I don’t believe we are really that short in being able to compete in the big competitions.

“We knew immediately after the game against Sevilla that we weren’t good enough, so we accept the criticism.

“I mean we are Manchester United, we have to improve year in, year out, and I know a lot of players, a lot of good players, will come into the club in the summer. That’s for sure.

“That is something I look forward to because it will improve the squad. The manager will also look forward to that because next season we have to win. We will have to try to win as many trophies as we can.” Lukaku enjoys a unique position under Mourinho, and enjoys the complete faith and trust of his manager. He has played 43 of United’s 45 games so far this season. For some of his team-mates, though, the future isn’t so rosy, with ruthless Mourinho set for a cull that could save his job — after recently signing a contract extension keeping him at Old Trafford until at least 2020. Mourinho will prioritise his defence and midfield this summer — and that will leave several of his stars nervously looking over their shoulder as the end of the season approaches.