Romelu Lukaku’s alarming form
Manchester United switch
Ever since his big money move to Old Trafford in 2017, Romelu Lukaku has accumulated his critics with his performances in a Manchester United jersey. The £75m signing from Everton has come under much scrutiny in the first half of this season in particular, whereby he had looked a shadow of his former self.
Lukaku has looked disinterested, lethargic and generally poor in many aspects of his play, but now Jose Mourinho has been relieved of his duties, Lukaku has a chance to reinvent himself again. But it hasn’t always been this way for the Belgium striker, his record was more than impressive last season.
Lukaku scored 27 goals over 51 appearances in all competitions last season, with 16 of those coming in the Premier League. Admittedly, Lukaku did go missing when playing against United’s rivals and title challengers, arguably the start of his critiques.
Looking further back, Lukaku scored a total of 15, 10, 18 and 25 in his four years at Goodison Park which is a strong record but considering the quality of his team mates at United, he should be looking at a minimum of 20 league goals a season.
Since Mourinho’s arrival in 2016, United have gradually struggled and it’s almost as if Lukaku has been a victim of that. In reality, he is one of Europe’s best strikers who with some improvements to key elements of his game, would probably be deemed world class.
This season
Ultimately, it’s all about hitting the back of the net on a regular basis and the Lukaku has struggled so far this campaign. Although, he has scored since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over the reins after Mourinho’s departure, and he’ll need to keep the goals flowing to re-establish himself as United’s main man.
It feels like there’s a long road for Lukaku to go to hit the number of goals he knows he is capable of scoring, but with a lot of graft and hard work he’ll put himself in the right direction. Team mate Marcus Rashford has looked sharp since Solskjaer’s appointment and it’s something for Lukaku to replicate.
Physically, Lukaku is one of the biggest in the Premier League and although he’ll never be the quickest, he has the attributes to be one of the league’s best ever strikers. He has encountered a niggling injury or two this season but being dropped as well under Mourinho, would have done his morale no favours at all.
The 25-year-old has the chance now to go on and prove his doubters wrong with a strong finish to 2019. A top-four challenge is looking increasingly likely and with Paris Saint-Germain coming in the Champions League, Lukaku should be looking to make a name for himself again.
Already, Lukaku is Belgium’s record goal scorer and has 108 Premier League goals to his name. Much of his best years are ahead of him and although he needs to rediscover his scoring touch, and first touch for that matter, he has it within his armoury to justify his hefty price tag.
