Man United should avoid making Romelu Lukaku mistake as transfer alternative emerges

Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United? Surely not again. Well, rumours circulated earlier this week suggesting that the Red Devils are considering a shock move for the Chelsea forward as a potential alternative to Joshua Zirkzee.

According to Calciomercato, United would consider a surprise switch to bring Lukaku back to Old Trafford this summer if they cannot get a deal for Zirkzee completed. United are keen to add another centre forward to their squad and have identified Zirkzee, who scored 12 goals in 37 matches for Bologna last season, as a priority target. The 23-year-old has a £34million release clause in his contract.

United are pushing to try and get a deal done for the Netherlands international, with Arsenal, AC Milan, and Juventus among his other potential suitors. However, should United fail to sign Zirkzee, then Lukaku has reportedly emerged as another possible striker target - five years since leaving the club. The 31-year-old spent two years at United, scoring 42 goals in 96 matches.

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Lukaku is currently employed by Chelsea but hasn't played a single minute for the Blues since 2022, having spent the last two years on loan at Inter Milan and Roma. He made the £97.5m switch to Stamford Bridge in August 2021 but failed to impress in his debut season, despite scoring 15 goals in 44 matches.

A fractured relationship with boss Thomas Tuchel saw Lukaku move to Inter on loan in June 2022. He scored 14 times in 37 appearances while back at the San Siro before signing for Jose Mourinho's Roma last summer, again in a season-long loan deal. Lukaku excelled at the I Giallorossi,