Lukaku set for Manchester United medical; Chelsea barely hanging on — report

As in some of Chelsea’s best work in the transfer market — notably during the successful gazumping of Manchester United two years ago for Pedro’s signature — Manchester United themselves are wasting no time in trying to push through the Lukaku deal from right underneath Chelsea’s noses. From 0-to-100 in four seconds, though the subsequent quiet period is always a bit deflating. Ya gotta keep the stoke levels high, man.

While reports disagree whether Manchester United have even an agreement over the fee with Everton, let alone an agreement with the player who up to about 12 hours ago was roundly understood to prefer Chelsea, there’s already a planned medical in Los Angeles apparently, which is where Lukaku’s been hanging out for the past few weeks on holiday.

Chelsea’s involvement at this point appears to be nothing more than a mere technicality unfortunately, hinging on that aforementioned lack of confirmed agreement between the two northern clubs or Lukaku himself. There’s still time and opportunity for Chelsea to make this a bidding war, should we so choose.

But time is quickly running out.