Manchester United transfer news: Romelu Lukaku joins Inter Milan for £74m after signing £300k-per-week deal

Lukaku has signed a bumper five-year contract with the Serie A club

Manchester United have sold Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan for £74m, including add-ons, bringing the Belgian’s two-year stay at Old Trafford to an end.

Lukaku arrived in Milan on Thursday morning only hours before the end of the transfer window where fans greeted him with refrains of his name at the airport, before he travelled to the San Siro for a medical. He has signed a five-year contract worth around £300,000 per week.

Lukaku joined United from Everton in July 2017 for an initial £75m with a further £15m included in add-ons, and impressed in his debut season with 27 goals as Jose Mourinho’s side finished second in the Premier League. His form last season was less consistent, producing a return of 15 goals.

As well as his form, doubts were also raised about the striker’s professionalism, along with several senior members of the United squad during slumps both under Mourinho and later his replacement, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

His departure leaves Solskjaer with only Marcus Rashford as an out-and-out striker, although he has various options in Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez and the talented academy product Mason Greenwood.

In a statement confirming the transfer, United said: ”Manchester United can confirm Romelu Lukaku has completed a move to Inter Milan.

“The Belgium international striker joined the Reds in the summer of 2017 from Premier League club Everton. Overall, he netted 42 goals from 96 games, and 77 of those came as a starter.

“Everybody would like to thank Romelu for his efforts at the club and pass on our best wishes for the future.”

Romelu Lukaku eventually got his wish to leave Manchester United (Getty) (Getty Images)

United were reportedly in talks with Juventus over the signing of Croatia international Mario Mandzukic as a replacement for Lukaku on deadline day, with Juve thought to be open to a £12m deal for the 33-year-old.

Inter had an initial bid for Lukaku of around £56m rejected last month and were forced to get much closer to United’s valuation of £80m in order to match their initial outlay. He becomes the Serie A club’s record signing, outstripping the £42.5m spent on Christian Vieri back in 1999, a sign of just how much Antonio Conte wanted Lukaku to spearhead his new-look side.

Everton banked a £5m cut of the transfer as part of a sell-on clause in Lukaku’s move to Old Trafford, and it is understood another sell-on clause has been included in negotiations between United and Inter, which will come into effect should Lukaku move on again.