Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United? Surely not again. Well, rumours circulated earlier this week suggesting that the Red Devils are considering a shock move for the Chelsea forward as a potential alternative to Joshua Zirkzee.

According to Calciomercato, United would consider a surprise switch to bring Lukaku back to Old Trafford this summer if they cannot get a deal for Zirkzee completed. United are keen to add another centre forward to their squad and have identified Zirkzee, who scored 12 goals in 37 matches for Bologna last season, as a priority target. The 23-year-old has a PS34million release clause in his contract.

United are pushing to try and get a deal done for the Netherlands international, with Arsenal, AC Milan, and Juventus among his other potential suitors. However, should United fail to sign Zirkzee, then Lukaku has reportedly emerged as another possible striker target - five years since leaving the club. The 31-year-old spent two years at United, scoring 42 goals in 96 matches.

Lukaku is currently employed by Chelsea but hasn't played a single minute for the Blues since 2022, having spent the last two years on loan at Inter Milan and Roma. He made the PS97.5m switch to Stamford Bridge in August 2021 but failed to impress in his debut season, despite scoring 15 goals in 44 matches.

A fractured relationship with boss Thomas Tuchel saw Lukaku move to Inter on loan in June 2022. He scored 14 times in 37 appearances while back at the San Siro before signing for Jose Mourinho's Roma last summer, again in a season-long loan deal. Lukaku excelled at the I Giallorossi, hitting 21 goals in 47 games. That return has seen Lukaku gain significant interest, with Chelsea prepared to sell him this summer.

If reports are true, United could be in line to bring back the Belgium international to the club. However, Erik ten Hag should simply avoid going back to sign Lukaku. At 31, he doesn't have age on his side anymore and may only have a couple of years left in him at the very top level.

As a short-term option, I could see why United might look at Lukaku, but they should be looking at the long-term and trying to recruit someone younger who has more potential. Bringing in Rasmus Hojlund, who was 20 at the time, felt like the right type of signing for United. And having another youthful prospect to battle alongside him for the first-choice striker berth could work wonders.

Lukaku would not be happy playing second fiddle or sitting on the bench for a vast majority of the season if he were to join United and be behind Hojlund, who is clearly going to be first-choice. There have been assumptions that Ten Hag could change formation and use two strikers up front next season, but even then, Alejandro Garnacho or Marcus Rashford could be one of those.

So, instead, United should sign someone who is content with potentially being second-choice for the best-part, as well as chipping in when needed. Jonathan David, Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen are among the other strikers to be linked with a move to the Reds this summer.