Chelsea have reportedly proposed a stunning swap offer to Juventus, which will see Gonzalo Higuain and Alvaro Morata swap sides this summer.
According to a report by Daily Mail, Chelsea have tabled a shock straight-swap offer to Juventus in order to land Gonzalo Higuain in the summer transfer window. The Blues have offered Alvaro Morata to the Italian champions in a bid to do away with the transfer fee for the Argentinian striker.
Higuain has evolved into a complete striker since moving to Italy after a successful six-year stint with Real Madrid in 2013. The last five years of his career have arguably been the most productive so far, although the going was slightly tough last season for him.
The player managed 23 goals and 8 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions, an underwhelming return by his lofty recent standards. Nevertheless, Higuain continues to be regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, which undoubtedly keeps his stock high in the transfer market. Chelsea are believed to be interested in him.
The Blues have kickstarted their summer spending spree upon the arrival of Maurizio Sarri as the new head coach. Chelsea are believed to be eager to sign a striker after reinforcing their midfield, with Higuain their priority as of now.
That the player is available for transfer this summer only boosts their bid to sign the veteran striker. But, Chelsea are looking to offset Juventus’s £53 million asking price. Therefore, they have submitted a stunning swap offer to the Bianconeri, which will see one of their former players return to Turin, should they accept.
Chelsea are prepared to offload Alvaro Morata just one summer after he arrived at Stamford Bridge, with Juventus believed to be one of his suitors. The Blues though, are also looking to recoup most of the £65 million they shelled out to secure his services.
Chelsea thus, believe that a swap deal will help them do away with the transfer fee, with Juventus getting a player in return. However, the Italian champions are eager to secure a cash deal for Higuain, after spending a record £100 million to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
Their stance is slightly perplexing though, as they are also interested in signing Morata. If Juventus insist on a cash deal, they will have to shell out as much as they receive from Higuain’s sale for the Spaniard, if not more.
Another point that stands out is the fact that Higuain will be turning 31 this December, meaning he is only likely to be a short-term solution for Chelsea. Morata, on the other hand, could perform better in his second season at Stamford Bridge, having gotten acclimatised to his surroundings in London.
Nevertheless, one can expect Higuain to bring more ruthless aggression as the focal point of the Chelsea attack, something that has been missing since the departure of Diego Costa. Additionally, Sarri knows how to get the best out of him, with the player enjoying his best ever campaign under the new Blues boss.
This is a transfer saga that could drag on in the days to come, with Juventus insistent on recouping as much cash as possible from Higuain’s sale. What will be interesting to see is if Morata heads the other way in any deal that sees the Argentine move to Chelsea.
