KEY POINTS

  • Belgium international has been trialling other brands after Nike deal expired.
  • Jose Mourinho has called upon the £75m striker to tie himself down to a new sponsor.

Romelu Lukaku is close to agreeing a new boot deal with Manchester United's sponsors Adidas worth in excess of £1m a- ear.

The Belgium international is currently trialling other brands after the end of his deal with Nike which was worth an estimated £250,000 per annum.

Lukaku has been switching between Nike and Adidas boots throughout the period but now appears to have sided with the German brand, who are increasingly confident of striking a deal.

The Daily Mail understands, however, that an agreement has not yet been signed as negotiations between the player and the sportswear giant continue.

Formerly of Everton, Chelsea and Anderlecht , Lukaku has also been in talks with Puma over a new long-term arrangement and wants around £1.5m a season from any potential deal.

"Romelu wants a hefty sum every year to sign with one of the top brands around," an Old Trafford source told The Sun.

"He believes the commercial landscape has changed for him since he made the summer move to the club.

"He has been alternating between Nike and Adidas for a good while now. He used blacked out Nike ones the other night.

"Talks have already begun with his representatives and their partners, but it is his decision at the end of the day."

And though the annual fee being offered to him by Adidas falls below that figure, it is understood it will be supplemented by bonuses for goals scored for club and country.

Should Lukaku put pen to paper on the deal he will become the latest United player to link up with Adidas – joining Paul Pogba who earns £3m a year – who are already two years into a £750m deal as the club's kit manufacturer.

While talks have been ongoing over Lukaku's footwear the forward, who moved to the 20-time English league champions in the summer from Everton, his form has suffered a dramatic decline.

The 24-year-old netted 11 times in his first 10 United appearances but Lukaku suffered a run of one goal in his next 12 outings, before he ended that drought against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.

Prior to the goal Mourinho had joked Lukaku's run of form was down to the lack of a permanent boot sponsor and called upon his leading striker to come to a decision.

"I think he needs a big contract with big boots because at the moment he doesn't have a sponsor," the United boss said, according to Sky Sports.

"He's playing with black boots, I think he needs a brand to give him the right boots and pay him the right money so he goes back to scoring.

"He finished the deal and now he's waiting for a new deal.

"But jokes apart he works amazingly well for the team. I would never blame a player like him for an easy chance that he missed.

"With me he knows that he doesn't have that pressure, he's a great professional, great colleague, I couldn't be happier with him."

Romelu Lukaku
Lukaku ended his run of one goal in 12 games with the equaliser against CSKA Moscow. Getty Images