Manchester United are going to have to shell out big money if they are to sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton.
Lukaku has been one of the best strikers in the Premier League this season, topping the scoring charts – he has 15 goals in the Premier League and 19 goals in all competitions this season -- and with Manchester United in desperate need of a goalscorer, the link was obvious.
Louis Van Gaal has reportedly made an attempt to tempt Everton to sell Lukaku in January, but with that particular move always unlikely, Manchester United will have to wait until next summer to try and sign for the Belgium international.
In order to complete that move, Manchester United will be asked by Everton to bid a British record fee, in the region of £65million, for Lukaku, according to The Sun.
Manchester United will not have it all their way, though, as the 22-year-old is also wanted by the likes of Real Madrid and PSG, and with those teams also loaded with cash, a bidding war could ensue in the summer.
Much will depend on where Lukaku sees his future – he has admitted a few times in the past that he wants to consistently play in the Champions League – and if that future continues to be in the Premier League or elsewhere.
With Real Madrid probably looking for a striker as well, the Lukaku move makes sense for them, but Florentino Perez, the Spanish club's president, will probably prefer bringing in an established "Galactico" like Sergio Aguero.
PSG are likely to lose Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer, while Edinson Cavani, another striker constantly linked with a move to Manchester United, could also exit at the end of the season. As a result, a position for a striker could be open at the Parc des Princes, and Lukaku will be seen by the French club as a good buy.
Either way, Manchester United will have a few battles on their hands to sign Lukaku. The first being convincing Everton to sell -- and that is not easy as Chelsea found out last summer when they tried to sign John Stones – and the second seeing off competition from the likes of Real Madrid and PSG.
