Arsenal are still interested in signing Alvaro Morata, with Calciomercato reporting that the Gunners are battling Barcelona for the 29-year-old’s signature.
Morata is just currently on loan at Juventus for a second year in a row. However, his time in Turin has been frustrating. He has only scored five goals for the Old Lady in Serie A.
Doubts about his future emerged during the January transfer window. Juve, of course, added Dusan Vlahovic to their ranks. In fact, Morata has not played as a striker in any of their last three league games.
Reports claimed that Arsenal hoped to sign the Spaniard last month. Mikel Arteta’s men let Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Folarin Balogun leave the club. And they failed to sign a replacement.
Obviously, it appears inevitable that they will strengthen this summer. Balogun shall return. But both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are out of contract.
There have been links with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Alexander Isak. But Calciomercato suggests that they remain keen on signing Morata.
Barcelona are also interested. And he could yet stay at Juventus beyond this season. Juve agreed a £29 million option for the end of this campaign when they re-signed Morata back in 2020.
Arsenal must not go near £29 million if they want to sign Morata
Morata has an amazing CV. He has won league titles in Spain and Italy. He has won the Champions League and Europa League. And he has won domestic cups with Real Madrid, Juve and Chelsea.
However, he has never been hugely prolific. His best return in a single league campaign is 15. And he has not managed more than 12 since leaving Real for Chelsea in 2017.
Morata also turns 30 before the end of this calendar year. So he is not going to be a player who fits the mould of Arsenal’s most successful signings in recent years.
He is a player Antonio Conte previously labelled ‘fantastic‘. However, he is not a game-changing target. And thus, Arsenal would surely be taking a huge gamble if they offered Atletico anything like what Juve need to pay to keep Morata.