Belotti third on Chelsea’s shortlist as Man United hijack their attempts to sign Lukaku

The Red Devils’ decision to target the Everton striker as an alternative to Alvaro Morata has direct knock-on effects on Antonio Conte’s transfer plan

Torino striker Andrea Belotti is third on Chelsea’s shortlist of forwards as Manchester United look to beat them to the signature of Romelu Lukaku.

United are turning their attentions from Alvaro Morata to the Everton frontman , both of whom are also high on Chelsea’s list of targets. Morata had been United manager Jose Mourinho’s top target, but a failure to reach a deal with Real Madrid has seen the Red Devils begin to look to Lukaku. This leaves the Blues looking at other options to last season’s Premier League Golden Boot runner-up.

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Morata had agreed personal terms with Manchester United, but the clubs could not come to a fair agreement on a transfer fee with Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez asking for more than the €75 million that the Europa League winners were prepared to offer.

Mourinho is running out of patience – and time – with Madrid, and should a deal for Morata fail to materialise this week, then he will seek to sign 24-year-old Lukaku as his replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

United and Everton have agreed a £75m fee for the Belgium international, who had long been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge.

United’s decision to sign Lukaku instead of the Spain international will have a direct knock-on effect on Chelsea, who also have the Everton striker as their number one forward to target during the summer transfer window. However, those hopes look to be fading, meaning Chelsea will now target the next two names on their shortlist.

Should Real Madrid and the Red Devils agree on Morata, then Antonio Conte’s route is clear to sign Lukaku, but he also is interested in Morata and Andrea Belotti if the Belgian moves to Old Trafford.

Both teams have made Lukaku their main priority, but United’s move for Lukaku now puts Belotti into contention behind Real Madrid’s Morata.