More Mourinho misery as top target chooses Chelsea over Manchester United

Manchester United have been handed a further blow in their bid to find a replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic with Romelu Lukaku set to snub a move to Old Trafford in order to return to Chelsea, reports The Independent.

Jose Mourinho is not expected to retain the services of Ibrahimovic beyond the summer after the striker suffered a career-threatening knee injury earlier this year, but has been forced to re-think their transfer strategy after it emerged Antoine Griezmann would remain at Atletico Madrid this summer.

Alvaro Morata and Lukaku have emerged as top transfer targets for United as a result and the Everton striker confirmed in March that he would not sign a new Everton deal in order to force a move away from Goodison Park this summer.

The 24-year-old has already hinted during the current round of international fixtures that he knows where he will be next season and Chelsea have reportedly already made progress in a deal to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge that will cost in excess of £80m.

The Belgium international only left Chelsea to join Everton in a £28m deal in 2014 after being deemed surplus to requirements by then-manager Mourinho and any reunion at Old Trafford now appears to be off the cards after receiving a firm no when making an enquiry last week.

Only Harry Kane (29) scored more goals in the Premier League last season than Lukaku (25) and his impending arrival at Chelsea will raise interesting questions about the future of Diego Costa, who has already confirmed he will not be second choice at the Premier League champions.

For more stats on Romelu Lukaku, click here to visit his WhoScored player page