Romelu Lukaku is becoming Jose Mourinho’s new Didier Drogba, says Garth Crooks

Share

Tweet

Share

Share

Email

Comments

Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku is beginning to look like Didier Drogba, which is something Jose Mourinho should take credit for, according to Garth Crooks.

Lukaku joined United last summer for £75 million from fellow Premier League side Everton and has scored 25 goals in 44 games across all competitions since.

Mourinho also bought Drogba at Chelsea in 2004 for £24m, with the Ivorian eventually going on to score 164 goals, while winning four Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League. NaijaBet.com

And Crooks, a former striker who had a loan spell at United in the mid ’80s, believes Mourinho is having the same impact on Lukaku as he did with Drogba when the Blues legend first moved to England.

“Romelu Lukaku is looking more like Didier Drogba the more I see him,” Crooks told BBC Sport.

“From his first headed clearance on the edge of his own six-yard box, to his coolly taken opening goal, the United striker has had a resurgence in form and looks a powerhouse. NaijaBet.com

“I have seen him in this form for Everton, of course, but he is developing into a much better team player and manager Jose Mourinho must take the credit for that.”

Drogba initially failed to make a true impact at Chelsea, going to ground far too easily – much to the anger of Blues fans – but bulked up and improved his game to become one of the best strikers in the world, representing the club for eight years in his first of two spells at Stamford Bridge. NaijaBet.com

Lukaku’s Man Utd record under Mourinho

Scoring 14 Premier League goals this season, Lukaku has been important to United’s aim of finishing second in the Premier League.

Despite some patches of poor form the Belgian has also helped through his all-round play, winning 91 headed duels – more than any other United player.

Lukaku has also created 28 chances and notched seven assists including one for Marcus Rashford in the 2-1 Premier League win over Liverpool, which put United in the driving seat for second. That assists total is the second-most at the club, behind only Paul Pogba, and more than any traditional No.9 in his division. NaijaBet.com