When Man Utd announced they had poached Romelu Lukaku from the hands of Chelsea during the summer of 2017, fans around the globe were overjoyed with what was perceived as a stellar piece of business. United had signed a proven Premier League goalscorer and straight from under the nose of a rival - does it get any better than that?
Well, yes, in fact it does - you can get a player who is actually worth £75m rather than introducing a striker who in all honestly isn't up to the task at the world's biggest club.
With speculation over Lukaku's future amid reported interest from Inter, let's breakdown the six reasons why the Belgian should be sold this summer.
He Just Isn't Good Enough!
Let's not beat around the bush, Romelu Lukaku is not good enough to be Man Utd's number nine.
Yes, he may be Belgium's top scorer, but he isn't in that elite bracket of strikers that the likes of Sergio Aguero and Robert Lewandowski are a part of.
His goal scoring stats aren't good enough - 12 in the league this season and 16 in 2017/18. His link up play is average due to an erratic first touch, and his hold up play is poor for a player of his size and strength.
One of those areas has to be top class to make it work for the Red Devils, and unfortunately Lukaku fails to excel in any.
Lukaku Has Stunted Marcus Rashford's Evolution
Lukaku has directly, and indirectly, stunted the growth of potential superstar Marcus Rashford.
Due to Lukaku's actual presence in Manchester, as an out and out number nine, Rashford has had to adapt his game in order to gain regular playing time; being forced out wide for the majority of his Man Utd career.
With the forward seemingly being able to hold up the ball effectively, Rashford has very rarely even got a chance to utilise his blistering pace when it could be so effective: on the counter attack.
Recent Quotes Show This Is a Move He Wants
"Playing in Serie A is a dream, it would be really a dream. I hope to be able to play sooner or later"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 25, 2019
Both Lukaku and his agent have stated publicly that he wants to play in Italy.
Speaking to on Sky Italia's Lord of Football, the striker said:
Money, Money, Money!
Reports
BOOM! Manchester United received a bid from for Lukaku made of 30m€+Perisic, so basically approx 65m€ evaluation
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) May 23, 2019
Style of Play
When you think of a Romelu Lukaku goal what springs to mind?
A winding solo run?
A 30-yard screamer?
A quick turn and shoot?
A first time volley?
No.
I'm pretty sure you think of a header - or a scrappy pile up in the box resulting in a toe poke into the top corner.
These are not the types goals a Manchester United striker should exclusively be scoring. Therefore with Lukaku up top, first thought is give it to Ashley Young to lump an aimless ball into the box.
Pointless.
If United are to start winning titles again they need to veer away from this tedious build up play and attack with pace and purpose. And with Lukaku in the starting XI, this will not happen.
New Look United
Source : 90min