Romelu Lukaku has made up his mind to go to
Chelsea, and is set to turn down Manchester United for a return to Stamford Bridge that will cost upward of £80m.
The 24-year-old on Tuesday gave a number of clues to his future while on international duty with Belgium, stating that he “knows what’s happening”, and significant progress has already been made on a move to the new champions.
The Independent understands that United made an enquiry last week and, while they were not given a firm “no”, the Old Trafford club were told that a deal with Chelsea is very close.
With Lukaku said to currently be on wages of £80,000 a week, that figure is likely to be doubled in a move back to London, although the Stamford Bridge hierarchy will hope to pay less than Everton’s asking price of £100m.
There is a belief that can be brought down to £80m, although the Goodison Park club are in an exceptionally strong negotiating position since their recent takeover.
Sources also say that Everton would actually prefer to do a deal with Manchester United because they are interested in players coming the other way, especially Sergio Romero and
Chris Smalling.
