Manchester United lead Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku- Two big reasons for Mourinho’s advantage
Romelu Lukaku is warming to a Manchester United move
For months, it’s seemed that Romelu Lukaku’s return to Chelsea this summer was a mere formality. Now, that move is in serious doubt. Manchester United have surged into the lead for the Belgian centre forward.
That news might come as a bit of a shock to fans of the Blues. However, close examination reveals two very logical reasons why Lukaku might be experiencing a change of heart.
First off, Lukaku has very real concerns over how he might fit into Antonio Conte’s lineup. The former Juventus boss requires his centre forwards to press the ball at all times. Tireless work rate is a requirement to thrive under Conte. That’s not exactly a key part of Lukaku’s current game.
Of course, Ronald Koeman also fancies forwards with significant work rates. That hasn’t been enough to keep Lukaku out of the Everton lineup. While I do acknowledge there is some credibility to this line of thinking, I don’t think it’s enough to keep him away from Stamford Bridge on its own.
The more concerning thing from Lukaku’s perspective is the potential competition he might face at Chelsea. The Blues continue to be strongly linked with a summer swoop for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata. The Spanish forwards has a history with Conte after working together at Juventus. It’s entirely possible that Lukaku fears moving to Chelsea, only to see Morata come in as the club’s number one striker.
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Lukaku is too talented a player to risk languishing on the bench. He’s clearly proven his ability to be a top-notch striker in the Premier League at Everton. He would be an automatic starter for almost any club in Europe. Moving to Chelsea only to end up on the bench would be a horrific career move for such a talented player.
Naturally, United fans might be wondering how Lukaku would fit in with Antoine Griezmann should he join Jose Mourinho’s squad. I actually don’t see that as a problem in the slightest. Griezmann is versatile enough to play anywhere in Mourinho’s attack. He and Lukaku could form quite a productive tandem. Morata and Lukaku wouldn’t have the same opportunity.
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Romelu Lukaku may still end up at Chelsea, but odds of that occurring are dropping by the day. Don’t be surprised if Manchester United end up as the final destination for the Everton star.