Manchester United Target Romelu Lukaku Is Not The Finished Article

Speculation is mounting that Manchester United and Chelsea are to enter into a bidding war for Everton's Romelu Lukaku, despite initial reports that an offer of £75m from the former has been accepted by the Merseyside club.

After finishing as the Premier League's second-top goalscorer behind Harry Kane, the Belgian is one of the close season's most sought-after commodities and will command a princely sum if and when he is eventually sold.

Up to now, Everton have shown no real wish to sell one of their prized assets unless a figure close to £100m is offered, but with just two years to run on his current deal, Lukaku's contractual situation muddies the waters somewhat. There's no obligation to sell as such, however, with big-money bids in the offing, a decision may be made that the 24-year-old is expendable at the right price. This is a player, after all, who was signed for just £28m back in the summer of 2014.

Whoever signs Lukaku will get a bona-fide goalscorer who has struck more goals than every Premier League striker bar Sergio Aguero and the aforementioned Kane since his Everton debut in 2013. Boasting a strike ratio better than one in two, he's notched more than 20 goals in each of his last three seasons for an Everton side not particularly blessed in the creative ranks.

That deadly eye for goal is, in the words of Ronald Koeman, what marks the former Chelsea man out as one of the division's best: “He is world class in his finishing. He is that good but he needs to improve in a total picture of a player – but that part of him is world class,” Koeman told the Telegraph back in February.

But for all his virtues - and there are plenty - there is still major scope for Lukaku to grow as a player. Incorrectly categorised as a target-man in light of his physically imposing frame, it is with his back to goal, when space is at a premium, that the Antwerp-born hitman struggles most. Upon his arrival at Goodison Park, one of Roberto Martinez's first tasks was to work on Lukaku's first touch in a bid to make his charge a more complete striker. Subtle improvements have been made, although this area remains one of the weakest in his game and a significant obstacle as he bids to become an elite level striker.

As his remarkable run and finish against Manchester City in last October's 1-1 draw at the Eithad Stadium evidenced, Lukaku is a forward who instead thrives when afforded large amounts of space in which to move. Picking the ball up close to the half-way line, the Belgian turned an innocuous situation into a real opportunity; bursting past two City defenders before firing into the corner. Well aware of his ability to thrive in space, few in the away end that day were surprised. He also did it against Chelsea in the 2015/16 FA Cup meeting, as well.

It seems like a paradox, but that's exactly the type of player Lukaku is. Fluctuating between the sublime and the ridiculous in open play; more comfortable running onto passes than in using his hulking physique against the league's more confrontational defenders. Balls can bounce off him, yet at the same time he's almost unstoppable when he gets going.

The final piece of the jigsaw when it comes to his value in the transfer market is his temperament both when the chips are down and against the division's leading lights. Everton's disappointing record on the road in 2017 can be attributed to many things, but Lukaku's inability to take the game by the scruff of the neck and alter its course is still clear for all to see. Unfair accusations of laziness followed from sections of the fanbase, yet it must be said that the attacker seemed ill-fitted to Koeman's setup- one that privileges pressing from the front. That's simply not his style, nor is it ever likely to be.

In his last 35 games against top six teams, Lukaku has mustered just five strikes- a stat that casts further doubt on his ability to succeed against the very best. Again, mitigating factors are at work, including Everton's own abysmal record in high-profile fixtures, but at the very least, the Diables Rouges international has shown himself incapable of changing the direction of matches with any regularity.

That said, there is clearly value in having a striker who can basically guarantee a minimum of 20 goals per season provided he stays fit. That's why, simultaneously, Everton are able to command a huge sum and the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in Lukaku's signature.

But for a reported £100m - or indeed anything close to it - it is patently obvious why Everton would consider letting their star man leave the club. Replacing his goals will be a challenge, however, with Sandro Ramirez already secured and moves for Olivier Giroud and Wayne Rooney in the pipeline, it may just be that a parting of ways is best for all concerned.

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