Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Romelu Lukaku and John Stones Rumours
Manchester United have made Everton's John Stones their priority target and could also plunder the Goodison Park club for Romelu Lukaku in their search for a striker.
The Telegraph reported United see the former Chelsea player as the answer to their goalscoring issues and could make a move to bring the Toffees attacker to Old Trafford.
Lukaku has found his best form once again after an unstable patch last season, and he recently scored his 50th career goal for Everton against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
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The Red Devils have become hugely reliant on Anthony Martial to provide the goals for the club. Despite scoring a wonderful effort against Wolfsburg in the Champions League, the Old Trafford giants crashed out of the competition.
Lukaku is a different kind of No. 9 to Martial, but the Belgian's power would be well-matched with the Frenchman's blistering pace.
At 22, Lukaku is already an experienced campaigner in England and appears ready to match the lofty expectations Chelsea once had for him as he was touted to replace Didier Drogba.
Drogba and Lukaku are similar in skill sets, and United are in desperate need for a player who can plunder the goals on a weekly basis, both at home and abroad.
The striker has 11 goals in only 15 appearances in the league this season, according to WhoScored.com, and would add the missing fear factor to the United front line.
It seems manager Louis van Gaal could be in extensive dialogue with Everton in the months ahead, as he also looks to also take Stones from the Merseyside club.
Mark Ogden of the Independent said Van Gaal is prepared to break the world-record fee for a defender to land Stones, as the England international's value soars beyond £50 million. United have already begun to focus on their potential summer transfer targets and are determined to fight Chelsea for the player in the months ahead.
The Red Devils' defending against Wolfsburg left much to be desired, as the back four were ripped apart by injury.
Stones has previously informed the Toffees he is prepared to leave, submitting a transfer request in August, per Ogden. Chelsea are likely to come back for the player they failed to land at the start of the campaign, but United "believe they will have the edge" when it comes to financing a deal, per Ogden.
The centre-back has become one of the hottest properties in world football this term and has continued to mature in the Premier League.
The Times' Henry Winter recently paid homage to Stones, as the defender's fan club begins to consistently swell:
Lukaku and Stones are likely to be incredibly expensive captures, but their ages ensure United could develop them into world-class players, both with huge sell-on values.
Wayne Rooney's tenure at United is coming to its natural conclusion, and the England captain's influence on the starting XI has evaporated since LvG's installation as coach.
Stones and Chris Smalling would be the bedrock that all success is built on for United in the near future, and both defenders have made incredible progress over the past two campaigns.
Smalling would add the power and leadership next to the craft and skill of Stones, forming a modern-day version of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the Theatre of Dreams.
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