Lukaku in transfer impasse
LONDON. — Everton are waiting on Manchester United to meet their total demands over the sale of Romelu Lukaku, which could amount to £90 million, according to Sky sources.
United are confident of landing the Belgium striker and have agreed an initial fee of £75 million, but the Toffees want a number of add-ons that will take the total price even further.
Lukaku is currently in Los Angeles, where he has been training with United midfielder Paul Pogba and is expected to undergo a medical with his potential new club ahead of their US tour.
But Sky Sports News understands Lukaku does not have permission to be away from Everton’s training base at Finch Farm and was supposed to report back for pre-season training on Thursday.
Lukaku’s future at Goodison Park has been in doubt since he rejected a lucrative new contract offer back in March and said during duty with the Belgium national team that he knew where his future would be.
The 24-year-old has also been a target for Chelsea but United boss Jose Mourinho has also been keen to add a new high-profile striker to his squad after losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic due to injury.
United had been in talks with Real Madrid over a possible deal for Alvaro Morata and saw a number of offers rejected, but Sky Sports News understands their interest in bringing the Spain international to Old Trafford has now come to an end.
There are also negotiations ongoing between the two north-west clubs over Wayne Rooney’s potential return to Merseyside, with a willingness on all sides to get the deal done, according to Sky sources.
United blindsided Chelsea with their covert move for Lukaku, using their £89 million world record signing Pogba to convince the forward to join him at Old Trafford.
Close friends Lukaku and Pogba have been holidaying together on the west coast of America and both are expected to join up with Jose Mourinho’s squad in Los Angeles tomorrow.
Pogba is understood to have played a key role in persuading Lukaku to abandon a return to Chelsea and instead link up with him and Mourinho at United.
Although Chelsea maintain they are still in the hunt to sign Lukaku, the 24-yearold was set to undergo a medical in the US, with United hopeful of completing the deal in time for him to train with his new team-mates in LA on Monday.
United’s stunning capture of Lukaku is a major blow to Chelsea, who were convinced their former striker was going to return to Stamford Bridge this coming season