Manchester United are reportedly “seriously exploring” a move for former Chelsea and Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, as the club continues to flounder in the summer transfer market.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Old Trafford outfit are immediately prioritising their surprise move for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot. If that transfer goes through as expected in due course, they will turn their attention towards the wide and centre-forward areas, with Morata a potential target for the latter position.
Manchester United Looking at Alvaro Morata as Potential Solution to Striker Dilemma
Alvaro Morata…
▪️ Goes on two-year loan deal to Juventus 🇮🇹
▪️ Returns to parent club Atletico Madrid 🇪🇸
▪️ Scores a hat-trick for Atletico against Juventus in pre-season 🎩— LiveScore (@livescore) August 8, 2022
Marko Arnautovic was Old Trafford Club’s Previous Striker Target
Manchester United are known to be in the market for a new striker this summer, with returning Frenchman Anthony Martial injured at the start of the new campaign and Cristiano Ronaldo trying to engineer an exit from Old Trafford.
The Red Devils initially wanted to sign 33-year-old former West Ham United striker Marko Arnautovic to add further depth to their threadbare attacking line, but pulled the plug on that deal after it was met by a furious backlash from supporters.
It now looks like an equally surprising move for Spain international Alvaro Morata could be on the cards once the club is finally able to strenghten its midfield. According to the Athletic, any deal to bring the former Chelsea man back to the Premier League could cost around £30 million.
Morata failed to impress in his time at Stamford Bridge, scoring 24 goals for the club after a then club-record transfer from Real Madrid in 2017 that was expected to rise to £70 million. He left Chelsea only 18 months later after the Blues agreed a transfer with Atletico Madrid in January 2019.
Manchester United Licking Their Wounds After Brentford Drubbing
The transfer strategy employed by Manchester United this summer has confused and dismayed the club’s supporters in equal measure. So far, the club have leaned towards signing players known to new manager Erik ten Hag from the Dutch Eredivisie, and any semblance of long-term planning appears non-existant.
Nevertheless, ten Hag will be desperate to see new incomings as soon as possible, having overseen a dreadful start to the new campaign. His side were roundly beaten by Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford on the opening day, and followed up that performance by suffering an alarming 4-0 loss away at Brentford.
With that defeat being perceived in some quarters as the club hitting rock bottom, there is a fear that the situation will be compounded further by Liverpool being next up on United’s fixture list.
Jurgen Klopp’s side inflicted a 5-0 defeat on the Old Trafford side in the corresponding fixture last season.
