Manchester United agree £75m deal for Romelu Lukaku - reports

The fee would make it the second-biggest transfer in Premier League history, following United’s £89m purchase of Paul Pogba from Juventus last summer.

Lukaku has been linked with both Chelsea and United in recent months, though Thursday's papers claims a move to Old Trafford was becoming increasingly likely, with Wayne Rooney potentially going the other way.

Meanwhile, the Manchester Evening News report that United have now told Real Madrid they are no longer interested in signing Alvaro Morata, having moved a step closer to signing the 24-year-old from Goodison Park.

United are ultimately seeking a long-term replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the Swede released on July 1 after suffering an cruciate ligament injury which is expected to keep him out until 2018.

Lukaku netted 25 Premier League goals last season for Everton, a tally only bettered by Tottenham's Harry Kane, who scored 29 times.

Chelsea had been favourites to land the Belgian, though a return to Stamford Bridge reportedly stalled with Diego Costa reluctant to leave the club for anywhere but Atletico Madrid – who themselves have been handed a transfer ban until January.

Costa could yet return to Spain, but the striker must look towards a six-month loan spell elsewhere before finally donning the Atletico jersey once more.

The champions therefore must either equal United's offer for Lukaku or begin to look elsewhere, and with Jose Mourinho turning his attentions away from Morata, it could be Chelsea who come in for the Real Madrid forward.

Fernando Llorente is another name which has resurfaced in Thursday's papers. The Spaniard scored 15 goals in 33 league games for Swansea last season, helping the Welsh outfit avoid relegation in the process.