Michael Essien believes Chelsea target Romelu Lukaku would have no problem working with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

Lukaku's future at Everton is uncertain after the striker rejected a new deal at the club amid interest from his former side Chelsea.

Blues boss Antonio Conte wants to strengthen his attacking options this summer and is believed to be keen on Lukaku, who scored 25 Premier League goals last season - just four fewer than top scorer Harry Kane.

The Belgium international, 24, was on Chelsea's books until 2014 when then-manager Mourinho allowed the striker to complete a permanent move to Goodison Park because of his desire to play regular first-team football.

Mourinho's current team, United, are also on the hunt for a striker this summer following the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and former Chelsea midfielder Essien believes Lukaku would fit the bill for the Red Devils.

When asked if United should table an offer for Lukaku, Essien told the Manchester Evening News: "Yes why not?

"If Jose wants him and he wants to play for Jose then yes they can work together.

"They both have to want to work with each other for that to happen and if the desire is there then, yes, they can work together."

The players on Chelsea’s transfer shortlist 16 show all The players on Chelsea’s transfer shortlist 1/16 The players on Chelsea's wishlist... Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty Images 2/16 Alexis Sanchez | Arsenal Arsenal FC via Getty Images 3/16 Alex Sandro | Juventus Getty Images 4/16 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | Arsenal Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/16 Ross Barkley | Everton Getty Images 6/16 Djibril Sidibe | AS Monaco AFP/Getty Images 7/16 Virgil van Dijk | Southampton Getty Images 8/16 Adama Traore | Middlesbrough 9/16 Cedric Soares | Southampton Getty Images 10/16 Ryan Bertrand | Southampton Ian Walton/Getty Images 11/16 Mousa Dembele | Celtic Getty Images 12/16 Fernando Llorente | Swansea Getty Images 13/16 Marco Verratti | PSG AFP/Getty Images 14/16 Faouzi Ghoulam | Napoli Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images 15/16 Danny Drinkwater | Leicester City Getty Images 16/16 Renato Sanches | Bayern Munich Bongarts/Getty Images 1/16 The players on Chelsea's wishlist... Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty Images 2/16 Alexis Sanchez | Arsenal Arsenal FC via Getty Images 3/16 Alex Sandro | Juventus Getty Images 4/16 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | Arsenal Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/16 Ross Barkley | Everton Getty Images 6/16 Djibril Sidibe | AS Monaco AFP/Getty Images 7/16 Virgil van Dijk | Southampton Getty Images 8/16 Adama Traore | Middlesbrough 9/16 Cedric Soares | Southampton Getty Images 10/16 Ryan Bertrand | Southampton Ian Walton/Getty Images 11/16 Mousa Dembele | Celtic Getty Images 12/16 Fernando Llorente | Swansea Getty Images 13/16 Marco Verratti | PSG AFP/Getty Images 14/16 Faouzi Ghoulam | Napoli Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images 15/16 Danny Drinkwater | Leicester City Getty Images 16/16 Renato Sanches | Bayern Munich Bongarts/Getty Images

He added: "In general it [Mourinho and Lukaku's relationship] was good and normal.

"We all had different relationships with Jose and mine, as everyone knows, is like a father and son.

"I won’t say Romelu’s relationship with Jose was the same as mine but, in general, it was normal and they respected each other."