Alvaro Morata to Arsenal: Striker to meet Real Madrid officials as Spanish giants give Gunners £38m asking price
Morata is expected to return to Real due to a buy-back clause in his Juventus contract, but could be re-sold immediately should Arsenal come calling
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal have been told by Real Madrid that they will need to come up with a £38m offer if they want to sign Alvaro Morata this summer, with the Juventus striker set to hold official talks with his former club next week.
Morata is expected to return to Real two years after leaving the club for Juventus due to a buy-back clause in his contract. Under the current circumstances, Real can re-sign Morata for €30m [£23.6m] from 1 July either this year of in 2017, and the striker has already cast doubt over his future in Turin by admitting he does not know where he will be playing football next season.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with Morata along with Manchester United and Chelsea, and manager Arsene Wenger remains interested in the 23-year-old despite missing out on a loan move for him in 2014.
Having completed the signing of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday, Arsenal look keen to press on with their summer transfer business, and The Sun claim that Real have set their asking price at €51m [£38m] should the Gunners wish to do business again in the summer.
Real are keen to sign Morata only to move him on immediately, given they can generated a sizeable profit on his re-sale value. The club’s officials will meet with Morata next week ahead of the Euro 2016 Championship, with the forward currently back in Spain as he trains with Vicente del Bosque’s national team.
Having sold Morata for £16m two years ago, Real will take an £8m loss on re-signing him, but stand to almost double that figure if they can find a club willing to take him on ahead of the new season. French league champions Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in Morata, with the club looking to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the Swede left the club at the end of the season following the expiration of his contract.
Arsenal’s hastiness in trying to structure a deal with Real – they were reported earlier this week to have made an offer to Real – comes amid fears that they could be overtaken in the race for his signature by Chelsea, with incoming manager Antonio Conte said to be keen on the Spaniard.
Morata is determined not to think about his future publicly until after Euro 2016, although he will have to when he meets Real staff to discuss the possible outcome of a return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Speaking after Juventus added the Coppa Italia trophy to their Serie A win last weekend – in which Morata came off the substitutes’ bench to score the winning goal against AC Milan – Morata refused to discuss where he will play next season.
"It's not my last game of the season as I have to play in the Euros," Morata told Rai Sport.
"I have to make the most of my current form and not even think about the future."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments