Arsenal could reportedly do battle with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea as they seek to lure a player of Alvaro Morata’s calibre to the Emirates this summer.
The Spain international has not had a whole lot going his way this season after having made just 13 La Liga starts over the course of the campaign.
According to The Sun, the Gunners are lining up a club-record £50m bid for Morata as they seek to prise him away from the Bernabeu in the coming transfer window.
Morata, 24, has not hidden his intention to pursue a fresh challenge away from the European champions, and it is suggested that the Blues remain his first option owing to his former link with Antonio Conte.
The Los Blancos graduate made his way to Juventus for a £17m in the summer of 2014, and his move was orchestrated by Conte, who then opted to take up the Italy job.
Since then, Morata has returned to his former surroundings at Madrid whilst Conte is on course to guide the Blues to their fifth Premier League triumph after a lacklustre season last term.
In spite of this, Arsene Wenger’s side seem to hold a distinct advantage in the player’s pursuit with Blues technical director Michael Emenalo looking to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton instead.
Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United have also been credited with an interest for the Spanish marksman, but a move to Old Trafford looks highly unlikely due to their ongoing pursuit (The Star) to sign Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann.
Morata, who has netted 20 goals during the ongoing campaign, is understood to want regular first-team action next season, and this is something the Gunners could guarantee with both Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud yet to be assured of their positions.
Meanwhile, Chilean attacker Alexis Sanchez continues to play hardball on a fresh contract at the Emirates, and he could be shipped out with his contract due to expire in 13 months’ time.
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