Manchester United are facing a late dash to secure a replacement for Romelu Lukaku after accepting a £73.7million bid from Inter Milan for the wantaway striker.
Lukaku boarded a private jet on Wednesday night to undergo a medical with the Italian giants and bring an end to one of the transfer sagas of the summer.
The deal is understood to include a sell-on clause.
While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is prepared to enter the new season with no further additions, he made it clear to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward this summer that the void left by Lukaku would have to be filled.
A move for Mario Mandzukic could yet go ahead before Thursday's 5pm BST transfer deadline after negotiations resumed over the veteran Juventus forward. And United are also aware of Fernando Llorente’s availability after being released by Tottenham at the end of the season.
But despite suggestions Paulo Dybala has had a change of heart over his astronomical wage demands and is now open to a move to Old Trafford, United sources are adamant they have washed their hands of the Juventus forward after pulling out of talks over the weekend.
Even without securing a replacement, it was accepted that Lukaku’s position had become untenable after he stayed away from training this week and angered Solskjaer by revealing confidential training statistics about his team-mates on social media.
The Belgium international boarded a flight to Milan with his agent Federico Pastorello on Wednesday night after United finally accepted an improved offer from Inter.
While the 26-year-old did not figure in Solskjaer’s plans this season there is an acknowledgement within the club that his goals will need to be replaced.
That’s why United explored the possibility of a late move for Dybala, who had not featured highly on Solskjaer’s wanted list at the start of the summer.
Mandzukic is also seen as a player who can boost United’s options in attack, even if his age – 33 – means he is very much a short-term solution.
Solskjaer expects Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to significantly improve their strike-rates – while there is great hope that 17-year-old Mason Greenwood will prove a surprise package.
But Solskjaer accepts he is light on numbers up front – with Alexis Sanchez showing little indication he can ever rediscover his finest form.
A late move for Christian Eriksen was intended to improve United’s creativity – but talks ended abruptly when the Dane’s desire to move to Spain became clear.
United are also among a host of clubs to have been offered Philippe Coutinho.
