Jase

So? Lukaku is supposedly one of the best strikers in the world right? He's supposedly improved in the last 2-3 years right? Then he better win us the Premier League because otherwise, what's the point? It's not like we can't win the domestic cups or even the Champions League without him.

Competing for the title? Given Lukaku is supposedly all great now and the amount of money we're about to throw at Inter to sign him, he better win us the Premier League title. Otherwise, it's all for naught!

Guessing this will be the decisive bid.....

Well to Conte, Lukaku is probably like Messi given how obsessed he was with him. How is it OTT when Conte built Inter around Lukaku? He is absolutely their most important player. Conte may use the same system (or formation) but it's different in execution.

Just because someone misses chances, doesn't mean the system is built to have a #9. Having a system and then putting in players to make the system work (what Tuchel has been doing) is entirely different to having a system entirely based around one player (which is what Conte did at Inter).

The chances missed aside, the thing with our current setup is that we're able to create lots of chances because the front 3 has got good movement and understanding between them and they are interchangeable and that's without an out-and-out #9. If we put one like Lukaku in, that whole thing is gonna change. We might still create the same amount/type of chances or we might not. And it's also worth noting that he's been highly successful at Inter because Conte created a system and style that were based around him. Tuchel hasn't done that with anyone here. Can Lukaku thrive if the system is not built around him?

Better off just going to Bayern then.

lol

It actually says Inter have two targets in mind - one being Zapata - if Lukaku does end up leaving.

Ookay.

Link?

Even if Haaland somehow flops at his next club, his young age means there's at least some kind of resale value there which is different to Lukaku.

Okay. If we could bid 150m+ or Dortmund are willing to sell, we would have done it by now, wouldn't we? It's precisely because we have run into a wall there that leads us to going after Lukaku now. Haaland was/is the club's #1 choice.

Do you know how release clause works?

Am all for solutions but not when the solution could disrupt the flow of things. Yes, Lukaku scores goals but the concerns raised by others here are enough to raise some alarm bells. Also, is it really a disaster if we don't buy Lukaku this year and then try for Haaland next summer? Yes, our chances to sign Haaland may not be great then but it's still not impossible. And what's the worst that could happen really if we can't get Haaland then? We can either go back for Lukaku, who may be 29 years old then but will likely be cheaper if we want to OR look around the market for any other up-and-coming #9 etc.

That's the release clause. It's fixed. If a club is dumb enough to pay more for whatever reason, Dortmund will be laughing all the way to the bank. Obviously it would be about convincing Haaland next year and probably even offer him astronomical wages plus agent fees to Raiola and his dad.

That's his release clause next year...

Oh, you're changing your tune now that we're not bidding 150m+ for Haaland? Even IF Haaland flops, it will still look less silly considering he would cost only 60-70m. Plus given his age, he would still have a good resale value if things don't work out for him in England.

I believe this was already said earlier but I'll just say it anyway. If we do get Lukaku, we're practically helping United raise funds and open the door for them to sign Haaland next year. They would enjoy more years out of him compared to us with Lukaku. And if we don't get the "improved" version of Lukaku, then we're gonna look very silly then, especially for 100 million+.

But Tuchel has also said he doesn't want to repeat what he did at previous clubs because he doesn't want to destroy the squad harmony and the good atmosphere at the club. At the risk of looking silly down the line, think Tuchel is someone who can learn from his mistakes in such cases as opposed to being a stubborn bastard like Conte or Mourinho. And if Matt Law is to be believed, Tuchel is said to be relaxed about how things are going and isn't using the CL win to kick up a fuss with the board.

But this is also a club that sack the manager often and the next manager may not be so keen on player X, Y, Z.

You're talking about a club who have a history of buying players that the manager doesn't necessarily want...