Romelu Lukaku to face no action over Gaetan Bong kick

The Mirror speculate that Jose Mourinho might choose to drop Romelu Lukaku in favour of the returning Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Lukaku has gone 10 games and scored just a single goal, and United struggled for inspiration against Brighton where they could only win 1-0. There are signs that United are struggling for creativity, and Ibrahimovic could be the answer.

This is why Mourinho likes Lukaku - he does what he’s asked to do, something that Luke Sure, for example, finds completely impossible. There’s a lesson there.

I’ve written of the potential advantages of Lukaku having an enforced rest, for Yahoo. It gives Mourinho a chance to drop Lukaku without having to comment on his form, given he is facing a three-match ban for booting Gaetan Bong on Saturday. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial can provide pace on the wings, Ibrahimovic can link up with Paul Pogba through the middle, and it may make more space for Juan Mata and/or Henrikh Mkhitaryan to operate behind the striker. And, gives Lukaku a rest after already playing 20 times for United this season.

BREAKING: Lukaku is not going to face any charges following that kick. That’s an utterly ludicrous decision from a neutral, fact-based point of view, as the kick was clear as day. Still, if he now scores a few winners, that will make life even more absurd, as Anthony Soprano Jr would say.

This writer at the Telegraph thinks that Mesut Ozil would be an Eric Cantona figure for United if he were to join from Arsenal. It’s a ludicrous comparison to make on several levels, but nevertheless, there is an important point to make: United are struggling for guile and creativity, he was at his best under Mourinho, and he is available at a cheap price in the upcoming transfer window.