Manchester United make Romelu Lukaku their priority target for the summer

Romelu Lukaku has emerged as Manchester United's top target for the summer, with Jose Mourinho convinced of his quality and wants to reconnect with him as he looks to challenge for the Premier League title next season. The Belgian striker played under Mourinho at Chelsea but was sold to Everton in 2014 as he did not fit the Portuguese manager's bill with his performances.

However, the Guardian reports that Mourinho is now ready to bring the striker to United to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is out till later in the year. Lukaku is currently the highest goalscorer in the league with 24 goals, three more than Harry Kane, and Mourinho is confident that a proven goalscorer is what the team needs to step up a level.

Lukaku has only two years left in his current contract and Everton would demand a fee in excess of £60m($77m) to complete a deal. The striker has previously expressed a desire to play in the Champions League and recently rejected an opportunity to sign a new deal with the club, opening the door for other suitors to make an offer for the free-scoring striker.

Chelsea are also interested in the frontman and should United fail to qualify for the biggest club competition in Europe via the top four route route or winning the Europa League, Antonio Conte's men will be favourites to sign the Belgian. The Blues already have Diego Costa up front to deliver the goods but Conte knows that they need more firepower up front to challenge for the title next season as they will also be active in Europe, something that they missed this season.

Lukaku is being represented by Mino Raiola, who has a very good relationship with Mourinho, and helped in the transfer of three players to Old Trafford last summer, in the form of Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Ibrahimovic. The Red Devils face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, where a loss will all but end their hopes of finishing in the top four.