Chelsea are reportedly plotting to hijack Manchester United’s move for Real Madrid superstar Alvaro Morata as a direct replacement for Diego Costa.
Daily Mirror are claiming that Chelsea are planning another hijack of one of their rival club’s targets. The report states that the Blues are looking to scupper Manchester United in their pursuit of Alvaro Morata as they seek a direct replacement for wantaway striker Diego Costa.
Alvaro Morata is one of the rare academy players of Real Madrid to get a regular spot in the first-team setup at Bernabeu, after he was bought back by the club from Juventus, where he produced exhilarating performances.
The Spanish international scored a whopping 20 goals and 6 assists in 43 appearances in all competitions combined, the highest by any Real Madrid player apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, despite largely playing second fiddle to Karim Benzema.
And it is his inability to dethrone the Frenchman as the first-choice striker in the eyes of Zinedine Zidane that has frustrated Morata, who is now looking to move in order to secure better first-team opportunities for himself. The player was earlier linked to a host of clubs but it is Manchester United who are now in the lead for the Spaniard.
Sky Italy: Alvaro Morata wants to move to Man United & work with Mourinho again. Negotiations ongoing with Real Madrid about transfer fee
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) June 14, 2017
Real Madrid are insisting on a fee of 90m euros – just over £78m – from Manchester United for Álvaro Morata. (Source: Independent) pic.twitter.com/nC0RjggtiA
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) June 16, 2017
Jose Mourinho is on the lookout for a striker after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s horror injury saw United not taking up the one-year extension option in the player’s contract. Morata’s prolific nature – he has one of the best goals to minutes ratio in the recently concluded season – has seen the Portuguese lock his eyes on the 24-year-old.
There have been rumours of Morata being on the brink of moving to Manchester United in the recent days. However, with no affirmative updates from either side, Chelsea are now looking to hijack United’s move. The Blues, too, will be in need of a striker, especially after the latest bout between Diego Costa and the club.
While Romelu Lukaku has been constantly linked with a return to Stamford Bridge, Morata is a more agile option and will most likely be better suited to playing alongside Eden Hazard & co., providing a more fluid attack upfront.
The reports say that Roman Abramovich has given his nod to the Board for a £70 million move to land the 24-year-old, which will come as a huge blow to United’s plans of securing the striker. However, in case both the clubs agree a fee with Real Madrid, it will come down to player’s preference.
Alvaro Morata Highlights from last season. pic.twitter.com/bMYyngGTbm
— ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ (@Utdology) June 11, 2017
Morata has international teammates at both the clubs and he will have a tough job in choosing a team between the two. Chelsea’s current situation with Conte might see United edge the Blues to Morata. Chelsea or United, the 24-year-old seems destined for the Premier League.
