Why Romelu Lukaku is considering leaving Manchester UnitedMan Utd striker Romelu Lukaku has endured a difficult season and is considering his future at the club under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Romelu Lukaku is considering his future at Manchester United amid doubts over his role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Lukaku said at the weekend he did not know if he would be at United next season and a source close to Lukaku has told the MEN the 25-year-old believes he is uncertain of his position under the current regime.
Lukaku had no intention of leaving United under Jose Mourinho amid speculation surrounding a possible move to Italy and agreed to address the media for the October Champions League pre-match press conference against Juventus with the intention of quashing rumours.
However, Lukaku is now open to a move to Serie A over issues with Solskjaer's selections and the Belgian's confidants believe the present situation 'could bring him away'. Internazionale appeal to Lukaku and are expected to embark on an extravagant summer spending spree in an attempt to end Juventus's domestic dominance, though any move would be dependent on a possible managerial change and the future of their irascible number nine Mauro Icardi.Despite feeling marginalised, Lukaku has been described as 'calm' as he weighs up his future and has nothing lined up for the summer transfer window as he focuses on United's final two matches.
Lukaku has started 14 of Solskjaer's 27 games in charge but his absence for the Norwegian's first two matches against Cardiff and Huddersfield allowed Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial to establish themselves in a more fluid front three.
Although Lukaku emerged off the bench to score against Bournemouth and Newcastle in Solskjaer's third and fourth matches, he did not line up in a league fixture until the draw with Burnley in late January. Lukaku's regular return to the starting XI was mainly enforced by the muscular injuries Lingard and Martial suffered against Paris Saint-Germain on February 12 and Lukaku enjoyed his finest form in their absence, scoring six in three.
Solskjaer's own issues with Martial's and Lingard's focus in recent weeks have resulted in him experimenting with the United attack and Lukaku has started in five of Solskjaer's eight matches in permanent charge but is goalless in his last eight. Lukaku previously endured nine and seven-game droughts this campaign.
United paid Everton an initial £75million, rising to £90m, for Lukaku in 2017 and would struggle to obtain a return given his form. Lukaku is contracted to United until 2022 - and the club has the option of an additional year - but has 12 fewer goals at this stage than he had last term and his panting following a burst against Chelsea was ridiculed by Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Neville.
After the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday, Lukaku said: "I don’t know [if I am staying], I am not here to entertain rumours. I am still under contract."Last month, Lukaku's agent Federico Pastorello said: "He sees a way to have a career playing in different countries because he would like to win some trophies and prove himself and say to his children: 'I won there and I won there and I won there' and 'I was a very good player in all the top championships'.
"So let's see. The future is really very open but, at the moment, we don’t discuss about that because really the season is in a big moment."
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-transfer-news-lukaku-16213319
