Solskjaer plans Lukaku heart-to-heart with Man Utd striker’s future in doubt
Boss Solskjaer is reluctant to write off the 25-year-old just yet but also wants to know where the Belgian sees his own future
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plans a heart-to-heart with Romelu Lukaku next week.
The £75million striker’s Old Trafford future is in doubt after a disappointing end to the season.
Solskjaer is reluctant to write off the 25-year-old just yet but also wants to know where the Belgian sees his own future.
Lukaku has not scored in his last eight appearances and his last goal was in the Champions League last-16 win over Paris Saint Germain... TWO MONTHS ago.
Solskjaer has generally preferred Marcus Rashford down the middle and Lukaku — who missed last week’s 1-1 draw at Huddersfield — is a doubt for Sunday’s clash with Cardiff, although United have not revealed what his injury is.
Juventus striker Paulo Dybala is tipped for a big-money move this summer.
The United boss currently has a right-back, a right winger and two midfielders top of his shopping list as he plans a new-look squad.
But that would also need to include a top-class striker if Lukaku leaves.
Inter Milan have contacted Alexis Sanchez’s agent as the Chilean’s future also remains up in the air.
Sanchez, 30, has flopped — scoring just five goals — since leaving Arsenal 18 months ago and both parties would be open to him moving on.
The Italians are believed to be keeping tabs on his situation although they are wary of the costs involved.
Sanchez is on £505,000 a week and has three years left on the 4½-year deal he signed after arriving in the £30million swap which saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan join Arsenal.
Reports in Italy say a meeting between Inter and Sanchez’s representative Fernando Felicevich took place in the last few days.
A return to Serie A could appeal to Sanchez, who burst on to the scene with Udinese before moving to Barcelona and Arsenal.
Inter are looking at boosting their striking options with Mauro Icardi poised to leave at the end of the season.
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Sanchez was back in the United line-up at Huddersfield on Sunday but was forced off with an ankle injury after 54 minutes and replaced by 19-year-old Tahith Chong.
That was the South American’s first start since March 2, although he spent several weeks out injured before returning against his old club Barcelona in mid-April.
All of United’s first-team squad have been summoned to Carrington on Monday for a post-season debrief before heading off for the summer.
But Solskjaer also wants chats with a few players as he looks to get plans for next season up and running.
The future of Paul Pogba — who shares the same agent as Lukaku — is also likely to be discussed.
The French World Cup-winner fancies a move to Real Madrid after three years back at United but executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is unwilling to sell.
Ander Herrera and Juan Mata are likely to say their goodbyes at Monday’s end-of-season meeting. The Spanish duo are out of contract and can leave on frees.