Mourinho revels in £75m capture of Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku has hit the ground running at Manchester United, training with his new team-mates in Los Angeles within an hour of completing his big-money from Everton.
A return to former club Chelsea had looked likely for much of the summer, only for United to swoop in and gazump the Premier League champions.
Lukaku has joined from Everton in a deal worth £75million plus add-ons, penning a five-year deal at Old Trafford with the option of a sixth.
Boss Jose Mourinho has looked far more happy with the set-up in LA compared to last summer’s ill-fated tour in China and is delighted to be working with Lukaku once again.
“Romelu is a natural fit for Manchester United,” he said of a player he sold when Chelsea manager in 2014.
“He is a big personality and a big player. It is only natural that he wants to develop his career at the biggest club.
“Hewillbeagreataddition to the group and I know they will make him very welcome. I am really looking forward to working with him again.”
The Belgian striker is relishing his United chance after four years at Goodison. He said: “It is an opportunity of a lifetime and one that I could not turn down.
“You could see the fight, determination and the spirit in this team during the Europa League final and I want to become a part of that.”
Fellow new boy Victor Lindelof, signed from Benfica, trained with his new team-mates at UCLA, where Luke Shaw and Ashley Young worked away from the main group as they step up their return from injury.
United’s first match of the tour comes against LA Galaxy on Saturday, before friendlies against Real Salt Lake, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Off the field, Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier remains a target as talk of a move for Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic dissipates.
Newcastle target Ruben Loftus-Cheek is set to sign for Crystal Palace on a season-long loan, while Norwich say they will not be selling winger Jacob Murphy to the Tynesiders.
Mags boss Rafa Benitez said: “We know where we are. It’s not ideal, because everybody wants to see a lot of players signed already.
“But we have to keep working and trying to find the players we want. Hopefully, we can do it. It’s not easy for a lot of teams, because the market is a bit crazy.”
Leicester City boss Craig Shakespeare has held talks with England U21 winger Demarai Gray over his future and wants the winger to stay – despite reported interest from Everton.
Wolves have signed keeper John Ruddy on a two-year contract after he left Championship rivals Norwich.
Hearts winger Sam Nicholson has joined MLS side Minnesota United on a twoand-a-half-year deal.
Bury have confirmed a season-long loan signing of Newcastle striker Tom Heardman, who played the second half of last Friday’s friendly against Sunderland.