A host of Premier League clubs have been offered the chance to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, and there looks set to be a scramble to land the Spaniard’s signature this summer.
The 24-year-old rejoined Madrid last summer from Juventus as they exercised an option to re-sign the striker, after allowing him to move to Turin in 2014.
FOOTBALLIndex Talk – Alvaro Morata – Trading at £1.79 may seem a bit on the high side, but if this brilliant young Spaniard does make the move he could double in value by this time next year very easily.
Morata has shown some very good form this season, and was the first Spanish player to bag a hat-trick for Madrid in eight-years when he bagged a treble earlier this month.
However, Morata is growing increasingly frustrated with life on the fringes of Zinedine Zidane’s first-team and he has started just 10 league games this season.
Sources have told me that Real do not want to lose Morata, but also do not want to a keep a player who wants first-team football and at this point looks unlikely to get that anytime soon.
The player himself insists he has not complained about his lack of first-team chances at Madrid, and said: “It is clear that you always want to play. I work to play. The rest is not really in my hands. I have talked a lot with Zidane, but I have never told him I need to play more.
“I am not here to complain, I am here to work and to win with the team.”
However, I understand that calls are now being made by intermediaries to a host of Premier League clubs – who are the most likely buyers given his wage demands and fee which is likely to be close to £30million.
Inter Milan have asked to be kept informed – but I have been told at least five English sides have confirmed their interest in looking at a deal, one of which are champions elect Chelsea whilst Rafa Benitez and Newcastle have also asked to be kept informed of the situation.
We spoke with BetVictor about the market surrounding Morata and they make Chelsea favourites to land him, their Head of ante post Football, Michael Triffitt told us: “Alvaro Morata has often been linked with a move to the Premier League and only last summer Chelsea were rumoured to be extremely interested before Madrid exercised a buy back clause they had with Juventus for him to return to Spain instead.
“The player has bagged 11 times in La Liga this season and has been a useful squad member. Madrid are in the driving seat for the title as we enter the closing stages of the campaign.
“Whether the player feels this summer is the time to move on remains to be seen and Chelsea can be backed at 5/1 to secure him next. Morata at 24 would be seen as an excellent signing but will Madrid prefer to hold onto the Spanish international.”