ROMELU LUKAKU on the big-money spree DEAL OR NO DEAL

Butland: I blew it with my blunder United stars sweating on their futures as Jose sharpens his axe SANCHEZ IS SURE TO FIND HIS FEET’

STOKE goalkeeper Jack Butland accepted some of the blame for the home defeat to EVERTON.

Butland admitted he could have done better with Everton’s first goal, scored by Cenk Tosun.

The game was billed as a battle of the potential England No.1s with Butland and Jordan Pickford facing off.

And the Potters stopper said he was unhappy with his performance.

“Disappointing. I need to look at the first one again but I felt I got a good hand on it and felt I should have turned it round the post,” said Butland.

“I hold my hands up, with the work we put in it’s very disappointing to concede the goals that we did.”

CRYSTAL PALACE defender James Tomkins hailed a “massive” win as the Eagles moved two points clear of the bottom three with a 2-0 win at snowbound HUDDERSFIELD.

“To get a victory in those conditions was very, very good,” said Tomkins. “The lads put in a great shift.

“Today was massive for us. We have to fight hard with the teams who are around us but we also have a hard one next against Liverpool.

“It will go to the wire but that was a massive win for us.”

Match-winner Junior Stanislas said practice made perfect with his free-kick taking. Stanislas stepped up to hit the clincher for BOURNEMOUTH in the 89th minute and he said: “That is one of the only free-kicks I’ve scored. In the last few weeks I have been practising them every day and it is nice for it to come off today.

“We weren’t very good in the first half, they made it hard for us, defended deep.

“With the mentality of our players and manager, there will be no relaxing in our mindset.” FOR EVERY MATCH REPORT ROMELU LUKAKU reckons he is looking forward to a summer of big spending by Jose Mourinho – but for others at Old Trafford it could spell the end of their Manchester United careers.

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

Mourinho (right) has reached the conclusion that he needs to make key changes to a squad that isn’t good enough to compete with the Champions League big boys – or to hunt down cross- t own rivals Manchester City next season.

With eight games to go, United are still on course for their best Premier League finish in 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 two trophies in his last campaign – the League Cup and Europa League.

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

Criticism

It’s not a view shared by £75million Belgian attacker Lukaku, who believes predictions painting United as alsorans in the coming seasons are off the mark. “I don’t believe we are really that short in being able to compete in the big competitions,” he said.

“We knew immediately after the game against Seville 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 that a lot of players, a lot of good players, will come in to 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 has the faith and trust of his manager, playing nearly all of United’s 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.

He will prioritise his defence and midfield this summer – and that will leave several of his stars nervously looking over their shoulder.

The United chief is already focusing on both full-back positions currently occupied by Antonio Valencia and Ashley A hl Y Young, who h are b both th 33 thi this summer. Luke Shaw is also in the firing line while Italian star Matteo Darmian and versatile Dutchman Daley Blind will boith be on their way through the exit door this summer.

At the heart of defence centre-backs Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling and injury-prone Phil Jones are under the microscope, with only Ivory Coast star Eric Bailly certain of his position.

In midfield, Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata will be under scrutiny.

However £89m Paul Pogba will be given another season to produce the goods after two mediocre campaigns EXPENSIVE signing Alexis Sanchez has the backing of Romelu Lukaku to come good for Manchester United – after the Belgian beat the doubters himself. Sanchez has hardly set Old Trafford alight since his free transfer from Arsenal in January made him United’s top-earning player on more than £450,000 a week. The Chilean (left) has struggled to fit in and has been a shadow of the star who since i hi his bi big- money return t f from Juventus. The Glazer family, United’s American owners, are likely to sanction another £ 150m spree by Mourinho – but the Portuguese coach will have to generate his own funds if he wants more.

Powerful

Lukaku believes United can’t dwell on their Sevilla shocker – and he’s determined to do everything to ensure a winning end to the season by delivering the kind of display he gave against Liverpool.

“I am a player that really thrives on high-intensity football,” he said. “It is terrorised defences when he was an Arsenal player, although he opened his account under Jose Mourinho last month in a 2-0 win over Huddersfield.

But fellow striker Lukaku believes his team-mate will emerge as a top player again once he settles in.

Lukaku hit the ground running after his £75million move to United from Everton last summer with 11 goals in his first 10 games before a barren patch brought just a single goal in 12 matches. That provoked a barrage best b tf for me b because I’m I’ powerful, f l I’ I’m really fast and it is something that can help the team.

“It is something I want to keep on going and I know that like that we are going to have more opportunities, I will get myself more opportunities. I can put my team-mates also in better positions as well.

“At the end of the day I want my team- mates to win. I am really disappointed we didn’t beat Sevilla because we dream of winning trophies like the Champions League, but you have to move on.”

For some, that will be easier said than done. of criticism from the knockers – just like Sanchez is enduring now.

Lukaku said: “It can take time to settle of course. Look at my situation. I started really well and had the dry spell in November and December.

“But with hard work you are always going to get through it. Alexis is a player with a lot of qualities.

“As long as he keeps working hard like he does, I think he’ll come good for us for sure.”