Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba are set to become Manchester United team-mates... is this is the bromance that helped to seal the £75m deal?

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Manchester United have surprised the Premier League by agreeing a stunning £75million deal with Everton for striker Romelu Lukaku, beating rivals Chelsea to the punch.

The Old Trafford hierarchy are now working to get a deal over the line by Sunday so he can join Jose Mourinho's first-team on their pre-season tour of America.

But Lukaku won't necessarily have to board an aeroplane along with his new team-mates and cross the Atlantic as he is already in Los Angeles with none other than United star Paul Pogba.  

United midfielder Paul Pogba and Romleu Lukaku pictured on holiday together this summer

The Premier League stars also met NBA star Serge Ibaka earlier this week in Los Angeles

The two international players are known for their close relationship as well as their talents

As their social media accounts attest, Pogba and Lukaku share a close friendship, which may have proved a vital factor when the latter needed to choose between two of the Premier League's biggest clubs.

The pair have rented a house together in Los Angeles, California, and have regularly updated fans on their latest adventures together whether that be meeting NBA stars or driving luxury cars.

Away from the cameras, it is easy to imagine how Pogba could sell the idea of joining Manchester United to one of his closest friends, giving his side the kind of advantage over Chelsea that may have proved definitive. 

Those scenes would mark a similar one to that of last summer, when Pogba flew to Miami to escape the media circus caused by his world-record move from Juventus. It was, of course, Lukaku who was there when the £89m deal finally went through.

'I'd never seen Pogba so happy,' Lukaku later revealed. 'It was a relief, a real happiness for Pogba.

'We only spoke once about football during our holidays - when we were at a pool in LA - and he was telling me about his dream to return to United. That's when I understood what it meant.'

Mino Raiola represents both Pogba and Lukaku and has agreed four deals with United

Pogba's presence at Manchester United may play a significant role in Lukaku's final decision

And Mino Raiola's role can not be understated either, who has represented both players for much of their professional careers. The Dutch super-agent appears to have a direct line with Manchester United, agreeing no fewer than four transfer deals with Ed Woodward since 2015.

Sergio Romero was the first to sign two years ago before Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pogba joined in quick succession last summer, making Raiola a very rich man in the process.

He will again earn a hefty commission when Lukaku's deal is finalised, but will have also succeeded in getting another of his clients to one of the world's top football clubs.

Pogba has regularly posted videos of himself and Lukaku while on holiday

Everton striker Lukaku has regularly been seen unwinding with his close friend in the videos

HOW SPORTSMAIL LED THE STORY 

Matt Lawton's exclusive story on Lukaku's move from the July 6 edition of The Daily Mail

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