Manchester United are poised to complete the signing of Romelu Lukaku from Everton despite Chelsea’s attempt to hijack their bid, according to ESPN FC.
The football site claim that Lukaku, 24, is heading to Old Trafford and that an announcement could be made before Saturday lunchtime in the UK.
ESPN FC report that United are working overtime to push through a transfer that will be worth around £90million.
It is said that Lukaku is then expected to meet up with his new teammates in Los Angeles on Sunday as they jet in to the west coast of the United States for a three-week pre-season tour.
The powerhouse striker is pencilled in to make his United debut against Steven Gerrard’s former club LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center on 15 July.
ESPN FC report that Chelsea have made a late attempt to beat Jose Mourinho’s team to Lukaku’s signature but their £75million bid falls short of the offer tabled by the Manchester club.
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who sold Lukaku to Everton for £28million in the summer of 2014, has made it clear that his priority this summer is to sign a centre-forward to replace last season’s leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Lukaku scored 25 league goals for Everton in 2016-17, a tally bettered only by Tottenham goal machine Harry Kane, who won the Golden Boot for the second consecutive season.