Manchester United agree £75m transfer fee for Romelu Lukaku as chase for Everton striker hots up

The Belgian forward is also wanted by Chelsea, who now face an uphill battle to secure his signing

Lukaku wants to leave Everton this summer and United have stolen a march on Chelsea (Getty )

Manchester United have agreed a £75m fee with Everton for the transfer of Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian international must now agree on personal terms with the Old Trafford club if he is to complete a move, but the Europa League winners will face competition from Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho had prioritised the signing of Antoine Griezmann after Zlatan Ibrahimovic was released this summer, but when he decided to stay at Atletico Madrid, United turned their attention to Alvaro Morata. While the Spanish international was keen to move, United failed to agree a fee with Real Madrid - who were pushing for €90m - and their interest ended late on Wednesday night when they felt a deal had become impossible.

United have now moved on and quickly agreed a deal for Lukaku, whose agent Mino Raiola last summer brought Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba to the club.

Should Lukaku become a United player, he will become the second-biggest buy in Premier League history after Pogba.

Chelsea, however, will make it difficult and have been in talks with Lukaku's representatives. The Blues' technical director Michael Emenalo is a huge fan of the 24-year-old striker but that deal is in the hands of transfer negotiator Marina Granovskaia and, without any doubt, the Manchester club have stolen a march on the west Londoners.

Wayne Rooney remains almost certain to head in the other direction but the Old Trafford club are keen to keep negotiations separate.