Chelsea, United in world record battle for Lukaku

ROMELU LUKAKU is at the centre of a world record £100 million (RM550m) tug of war between Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Belgian international is wanted by both Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

He still has two years left on his contract with Everton but has told them that he won’t sign a new long term deal in a bid to force through a move.

Everton are ready to fight to hang onto their most prized asset but it’s one they are unlikely to win after he scored 25 goals this season.

Both United and Chelsea were keen on Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata but look likely to miss out to AC Milan who are now favourites to land him.

It means that the Premier League giants will go head to head in a bid to lure Lukaku into signing for them.

The Blues will raise around £60m by selling Diego Costa to China when the Chinese transfer window opens next month.

Chelsea are seen as the favourites to sign him as Lukaku feels that he has got unfinished business at Stamford Bridge when he was.

But Everton manager Ronald Koeman expects his star striker to stay, saying: “I expect Romelu to stay because until now I have not hear anything from the board that any club is asking about him,” the Dutchman said.

“You like to keep your best striker, your top scorer, but we also need around that position more productivity.

“If there is interest in him then the board will know and they will come to the club if they have interest in the player. That is like everybody.”

The links with Manchester United however may be wide of the mark as Lukaku has reservations about working once again with Mourinho.

Lukaku and the Portuguese had a fractious relationship at Chelsea before the striker was sold to Everton for £28 million (RM154m) in 2014.

After Antoine Griezmann’s apparent snub, it emerged yesterday that Mourinho is looking at Torino’s Andrea Belotti to succeed Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the No. 9 shirt given the Swede’s long-term injury.

The signing of Burnley’s Michael Keane is seen as much likelier, with the former United centrehalf having said to friends that it is his probable destination.

Meanwhile Michael Carick has agreed a one-year contract extension with United.

This comes just a day after Antonio Valencia penned a new deal with the club.

“What a fantastic way to finish off the season, with a new trophy in our cabinet,” Carrick told the club’s official website.

“I am delighted that my journey with this great club is going to continue.”

“My focus now is looking ahead to my testimonial match next Sunday; it will be a very proud moment for me and my family, and is the perfect way to top what has already been a great season.” – The Daily Star