Man Utd Steal March On Chelsea With £52.4m Striker Bid But Euro Giants Demand More

Managers are now pressing ahead with their plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Man Utd have seen their opening offer for Alvaro Morata rejected…

Manchester United have seen an opening £52.4m offer rejected by Real Madrid for Chelsea target Alvaro Morata, according to a report by Sky Sports News.

Morata’s future at Madrid has been a hot topic for debate in recent months as the striker has struggled to hold down a first team place following his return to the Bernabeu from Juventus last summer.

The Spanish international started just 16 games in all competitions last season but still managed to score an impressive 20 goals to help Madrid win a sensational La Liga and Champions League double.

With the World Cup coming up next summer, there have been suggestions Morata may look to leave in search of regular football and it’s led to speculation he could be coming to England.

Chelsea have been strongly linked with the striker with the Mirror reporting last month that Antonio Conte was urging the clubs hierarchy to push ahead with a formal move to sign the Spaniard.

Conte has just led Chelsea to their fifth Premier League title but he knows he needs to further strengthen his squad ahead of their return to the Champions League and Morata would give them another top class option up front.

However, the Telegraph then reported earlier this week that Manchester United were ready to go head-to-head with Chelsea over Morata’s signature after Jose Mourinho had made him a prime target.

The Portuguese coach is in the market for a world class striker after losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Morata is supposedly seen as a much cheaper alternative to the likes of Romelu Lukaku or Andrea Belotti.

It seems United have now stolen a march on Chelsea as Sky Sports are citing a report from Sky Italia that claims the Red Devils have tabled an opening £52.4m bid for Morata’s services.

However, it seems they’ll have to dig a little deeper as the report states that Madrid have already rejected United’s offer and are holding out for a fee nearer £78m for the 24-year-old striker.

We’ll have to wait and see how Chelsea react to this news but with the Independent reporting that Lukaku has opted for a move back to Stamford Bridge, United could now be in pole position to land Morata.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

If Diego Costa leave the champions then Conte could be in the market for two strikers but for now the most likely scenario seems to be that Lukaku will join Chelsea and Morata could head to Old Trafford if he leaves Madrid this summer.