Most football fans expected Manchester United to spend big this summer and they have certainly lived up to the billing so far. A swift A?35 million move for Benfica defender Victor Lindelof got the ball rolling early on before the Red Devils hijacked Chelseaas pursuit of A?75 million man Romelu Lukaku.
For the most part of the summer, the Belgium international looked set to return to Chelsea after leaving Stamford Bridge in 2014 but Jose Mourinhoas men came in with a late bid to sign the Everton star. And with Zlatan IbrahimoviA and Wayne Rooney now out of the Old Trafford exit door, Lukaku could be Unitedas main man next season.
According to WhoScored, the 24-year-old bagged 25 goals in 37 Premier League games last season a an excellent goal scoring record. Lukaku averaged a goal every 130 minutes of top-flight football; making him one of the most prolific strikers in the English game.
He missed out on the Golden Boot award to Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane but Lukaku will be quietly confident of challenging for the accolade whilst at United. With the right service, the Belgian could even top the 30 Premier League goals mark.
In terms of attacking talent, the Red Devils arenat as strong as they once were but Mourinho is still blessed with quality in forward areas. With Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford on the flanks and Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan just in behind, Lukaku could flourish as Unitedas spearhead in attack.
#MUFC is delighted to announce a fee has been agreed with Everton for the transfer of Romelu Lukaku, subject to a medical & personal terms. pic.twitter.com/O7oQJWzYHo
a Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 8, 2017
And thatas before we mention Paul Pogba. Off the field, Pogba and Lukaku are close friends and that rapport could give United an advantage on the pitch. After signing for a world record fee of A?89 million, Pogba is going to have to deal withAcriticism but he truly is a remarkable young talent.
Last season, IbrahimoviA benefited directly from Pogbaas arrival a the Sweden icon could have ended the campaign with close to 35 goals had he not suffered a long-term injury in April. In terms of style, Lukaku is in a similar mould to Zlatan and Pogba may shine once again; especially if UnitedAsign a defensive midfielder to partner Ander Herrera.
Giving Pogba a roaming role is an absolute must. Mourinho knows that, at times, Pogbaas talent went to waste last season. The Frenchman is widely regarded as one of European footballas biggest stars and he is going to have to cope with the weight of expectation a even more so at Old Trafford than at former club Juventus.
But Lukaku still has to put the ball in the back of the net. Scoring goals, particularly in the Premier League, isnat easy yet the Belgian has always managed to put up solid numbers. When featuring in 20 or more league games, Lukaku has always reached double figures and his tally of 85 top-flight strikes in 186 appearances is impressive, to say the least.
So, United are well worth backing in the title race, right? It is difficult to argue against the 20-time English champions at the present moment. At the time of writing, Mourinhoas men are valued at 3/1 according to various bookmakers but some will have their doubts.
Even with Zlatan, United struggled to hit the back of the net last term and goals could dry up if Lukaku struggles a it may be worth looking at free bets offers and promotions with Oddschecker. Defensively, the Red Devils are solid but even Bournemouth scored more goals than Mourinho’s side in the 2016/17 campaign.
If Lukaku hits the ground running, United will be in business. Getting off to a good start is vital and the Red Devils have a relatively straightforward opening to the season. First up is a home fixture with West Ham United before a trip to South Wales to face Swansea City.
After that, an Old Trafford showpiece against Lukaku’s former club EvertonAbeckons. Realistically, United should be aiming for seven points if not nine. Lukaku will be hoping to notch a couple of goals in August a that should keep any critics off his back.
Mourinhoas men are heading in the right direction and with Lukaku leading the line, anything is possible. We have seen just how lethal he can be in Englandas top flight and United fans will be expecting ‘Big Rom’ to fire the Red Devils to a first Premier League title since 2013.
