Madrid Ready To Sell After Striker Agrees Arsenal Switch

The January transfer window may have slammed shut but clubs will still be working hard behind the scenes at identifying targets for the summer, so we’ll bring you all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Arsenal move a step closer to Alvaro Morata.

Real Madrid are ready to cash in on Alvaro Morata this summer after the striker agreed to join Arsenal at the end of the season, according to reports today.

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague claimed on Sky Sports show Revista de La Liga earlier this week that Arsenal had convinced Morata to make the move to the Emirates if they could agree a fee with Madrid.

Balague has given us further details on the deal in his column in Spanish newspaper AS today, where he claims it’s taken almost 12 months of negotiations for an agreement has been reached between the striker and Arsenal, while Carlo Ancelotti is also believed to have blocked a loan move in January.

The report suggests that Arsene Wenger decided not to sign another striker in the winter window as he hoped another six months of sitting on the bench at the Bernabeu would convince Morata to push for a move, and it seems that’s going to be the case.

With Karim Benzema the first choice striker at Real, the 21-year-old has started just 1 La Liga game this season and fellow youngster Jesse has now also moved ahead of him in the pecking order in recent weeks, leaving Morata out in the cold.

Balague states that the striker is now ready to move to the Emirates and believes Wenger should be able to tempt Madrid into a deal that could include a buy-back clause. talkSPORT are also reporting that Madrid are now ready to cash-in on the player this summer, so it looks like a move to north London could be on the cards.

However, with the Gunners linked with several high profile strikers in recent months, will fans be satisfied if Morata is the only front-man Wenger signs this summer? I had hoped we might be more ambitious and target players such as Diego Costa, but understand there is a certain risk in signing such expensive players who are yet to prove themselves in England.

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Morata would be a relatively cheaper alternative who’s still young enough for Wenger to mold into the type of striker he’s looking for, so he could turn out to be an astute purchase if we manage to pull it off. Olivier Giroud is likely to remain first choice next season while Morata adjusts to life in England, but I think the Spanish youngster has the ability to offer much more than Giroud in the long-term.

Would you be happy if Morata was the only striker Arsenal sign this summer? Share your views below.