Sky Sports News HQ's James Cooper says Manchester United have made contact to sign Everton striker Romelu Lukaku "weeks ago".
Reports in England have claimed that the Red Devils will sign the Belgium international for £75million.
Cooper believes that the 24-year-old was Jose Mourinho's main summer target and that he is no longer interested in Alvaro Morata.
"I was told this deal has been weeks in the making. It isn't just something they've swooped on today or this week," Cooper said.
"Jose Mourinho gave executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward his transfer wish list at the start of May and there were four options for each of the four or five positions he wanted to improve.
"What I'm told is that, from the word go, Lukaku was the number one target for the striker berth.
"I think everybody else assumed Lukaku going to Chelsea was a done deal and that allowed them to go about their work under the radar, without anybody even thinking it was possible.
"Manchester United are telling me Morata is no longer of interest. But games do get played at this stage. I'm only second guessing here, but it may be that United feel they have been quoted too much for him.
"By saying they have ended their interest and bringing in Lukaku, they have put the ball back in Real Madrid's court in terms of Morata. If Real Madrid want to sell a player who won't be a regular in their first team, they will have to lower their asking price."
