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Manchester, Monday

Inter Milan have identified Anthony Martial (pictured) as a potential replacement for the outgoing Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku is closing in on a Sh 14.8 billion (£98million) return to Chelsea from Inter, with the Italian side looking to ease their financial woes. 

Should Lukaku return to Stamford Bridge, Inter will look to sign Martial on a season-long loan deal.

According to The Sun, Manchester United would prefer to accept a permanent deal rather than a temporary one for the striker.

Although it is believed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side would agree to a 12 month loan deal as long as it included a requirement to buy after. 

However, the Red Devils would only part ways with the 25-year-old for a figure close to the £50million they initially paid for him six years ago.

Should Inter fork up the required cash, they would finally land the payer – who they first sought after two years ago.

As it stands, Martial has three years left on the contract – which currently sees him earn £200,000 a week.

Given Inter and Manchester United’s good relationship – having successfully completed deals over Ashley Young and Alexis Sanchez – it is likely a pair will be able to push a deal over the line.   

A transfer to Italy could benefit Martial as he has struggled to cement a place in Solskjaer’s starting XI. 

Speaking after Saturday’s 4-0 friendly win over Everton, the United manager said: ‘Anthony has had a bad spell with injuries.

‘He’s been training well with us but as players who’ve been out for a while, they need some more sharpness, need some more work.

‘He tried to do the right thing; it didn’t come off all the time, but it’s better than what you fear sometimes when he’s been injured for five months – since March.’ 

Martial would be a direct replacement for Inter’s star striker Lukaku – who has been linked with a return to Chelsea. 

The fee is expected to be in the region of £95m, just short of the British transfer record set by Manchester City when they signed Jack Grealish in the last few days but setting a record for the London club. 

Lukaku first joined Chelsea 10 years ago as an 18-year-old from Anderlecht but was eventually sold to Everton where he established himself as a Premier League force.  -Dailymail