Chelsea Open Talks Over Deal For £40m Hitman After Arsenal & Man Utd Cool Interest

The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Chelsea step-up their interest in Alvaro Morata…

Chelsea have opened talks over a potential £40m deal to sign Alvaro Morata after Arsenal and Manchester United focussed their attention on other targets, according to the Telegraph.

Incoming Blues boss Antonio Conte isn’t due to officially take over at Stamford Bridge until he fulfills his duties with Italy at Euro 2016 but it looks like the 46-year-old is already making plans for when he arrives in West London.

The former Juventus coach is expected to be extremely active in the transfer market this summer overhauling the Chelsea squad following a disastrous campaign and a striker to offer support to Diego Costa is likely to be a priority with Morata seemingly on his radar.

The Spanish international joined Juve two years ago and has helped the Turin giants secure consecutive Serie A titles but the Telegraph claim Real Madrid are set to activate a £23m buyback clause and immediate resell the striker on for around £40m.

Several Premier League clubs have been linked with the 23-year-old in recent months with the newspaper suggesting that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all been tracking the striker.

However, it looks as though Chelsea are now in pole position as the Telegraph report that the Blues have opened talks over a potential deal for Morata after Arsenal turned their attention to Jamie Vardy while United are closing in on a deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

It’s reported that Chelsea are making efforts to get get a move agreed before the start of the European Championships while Morata recently admitted he’d prefer to have his future resolved before Spain’s first game against the Czech Republic next Monday, while he also revealed he’s has ‘tempting’ offers from England.

“Hopefully everything will be resolved before then, because it is uncomfortable to be helping your country with phone in hand.

“My wish is to succeed in Madrid, but Madrid have great players and what I want is to play and feel important.

“There are some offers from England that are tempting, not only because of the contract. I think my characteristics mean the Premier League would be a great destination.

“With what I have learned in Italy, if I have the chance to learn something more in England I think it would make me a more complete player. I am 23 years old and I want to progress, to play and learn from the best.”

Morata is quoted as saying by the Telegraph

Morata is a huge talent and while he may not be a prolific striker just yet having scored just 27 goals in 93 appearances for Juventus since joining the club, he has all the attributes to become a top class forward and Conte knows the player well having been the man in charge at Juventus when he was signed in 2014.

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The striker would have no problems settling in at Stamford Bridge if he was to make the move as fellow Spaniards Diego Costa, Cesc Fabrgeas, Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta are already on the books at Chelsea.