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Former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata may be set for a dramatic return to London with Arsenal monitoring his situation.
Currently spending a second straight campaign on loan with Serie A giants Juventus from parent club Atletico Madrid, Morata’s future beyond this term remains firmly up in the air.
Atleti are keen to cash in this summer with the Spanish marksman’s contract set to expire in 2023 and first refusal will go to Juve, who can acquire him permanently for a fee of around £30million.
But it is far from certain that option will be taken up and — according to Calciomercato — both the Gunners and Barcelona are watching things closely.
Having played for both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Morata would complete a rare set in Spanish football by heading to the Camp Nou.
Barca boss Xavi is an admirer of the 29-year-old ace and is keen to continue adding experience to a new-look frontline featuring Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are very much in the market for a centre forward following Aubameyang’s recent departure.
Deadline day reports in Spain claimed Gunners boss Mikel Arteta instructed one of his coaches to make contact with Morata.
Miguel Molina, who worked with the striker at Atleti, is said to have phoned him three weeks ago to sell him on a potential switch to the Emirates.
Though a deal did not get over the line last month, Arteta appears happy to revisit the situation in the summer.
Ultimately, the power remains in Juve’s hands with their option to buy — but their recent capture of Serbian sensation Dusan Vlahovic suggests they may have moved on.
Morata has featured 33 times for the Old Lady in all competitions this term, netting eight times.
In other news
Pep Guardiola has instructed Manchester City officials that he wants them to tie down in-form winger Raheem Sterling to a new contract at the Etihad.
Fabrizio Romano says talks are continuing between the club and England international Sterling, 27, who has bagged 10 goals in 22 Premier League games this season.
Napoli’s 25-year-old midfielder Fabian Ruiz is a target for Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona, according to the Daily Mirror.
Ruiz is thought to have rejected a new deal in Naples and will be made available for a fee of around £16m.
