Post-Lukaku Conte eyes Morata
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Shanghai Daily, July 12, 2017
 |
|
Morata. |
Spanish striker Alvaro Morata is now the focus of frustrated Chelsea manager Antonio Conte's attentions after Romelu Lukaku slipped through his fingers and signed for Manchester United, according to media reports.
Chelsea has tabled a 62-million pound (US$80 million) bid for the 24-year-old but Real Madrid is holding out for around 80 million pounds, the reports say.
Chelsea has offered Morata wages of 150,000 pounds a week on a five-year contract, according to London's Evening Standard. Morata is keen to play for the manager and told The Guardian Conte had given him self belief.
Morata came close to playing for Conte at Juventus in 2014 when the latter played a pivotal role in persuading him to join Juventus ... only for the coach to jump ship and take over the national side.
"I feel indebted to him because he's the coach that most trusted in me, most wanted me, who made me feel I could perform at the highest level," Morata told the newspaper in April.
Morata would replace fellow Spanish international Diego Costa, whom Conte told at the end of last season he no longer figured in his plans despite his 20 English Premier League goals spurring on Chelsea to the title.
Costa is linked to a move back to Atletico Madrid even though the club cannot register new players until January because of a blanket FIFA transfer ban.
Morata had been thought to be United's principal target until it swung towards 24-year-old Lukaku and spectacularly stymied Conte's well-laid plans.
Thus far Chelsea's recruitment for a season that will throw up the extra challenge on the squad of UEFA Champions League football has seen experienced Argentinian goalkeeper Willy Caballero join for free and German international defender Antonio Rudiger sign for 29 million pounds on Sunday.
There could also be further disappointment for Conte with regard to his pursuit of midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko as several newspapers suggest United is ready to launch another commando raid to hijack the deal.
The Times and The Daily Mail say United is willing to offer 40 million pounds — matching Monaco's valuation — rather than the 35-million pound Chelsea bid for the 22-year-old.
United had originally been keen to bring Nemanja Matic from Chelsea but The Times says the Lukaku affair has endangered that deal in souring the two clubs' relations.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich has signed midfielder James Rodriguez from Real on a two-year loan deal with an option to buy the player, the German champion said yesterday.
The 25-year-old Colombia international made 22 La Liga appearances for Real last season, scoring eight goals, and featured six times in the UCL.
"We are very happy to have completed this transfer," Bayern Executive Board Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement. "Signing James Rodriguez was the big wish of our coach Carlo (Ancelotti) after they worked successfully together in Madrid."
Rodriguez moved to Real from Monaco for a reported 60 million euros (US$68.4 million) in 2014 after winning the Golden Boot as the leading scorer at the FIFA World Cup.
The Colombian is the German club's sixth signing of the close season, following the arrivals of wingers Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman, midfielders Corentin Tolisso and Sebastian Rudy, and center back Niklas Suele.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)