With Arsenal lacking a truly world-class forward to provide goals week in, week out, the club are reportedly looking at Juventus star and Spain international Alvaro Morata.
At just 23-years-old, there is plenty of demand for the forward and he will certainly come with a meaty price tag. Morata has only eight goals this season for the Italian giants, but that number would rise quickly if he becomes the focal point of the Arsenal attack.
According to the Daily Express, Manchester United are said to be going for the Juve centre forward, and his former club, Real Madrid, have a first refusal clause in his contract, meaning that the Italian giants would have to notify them before striking a deal with the Gunners or any other team.
Arsenal would have to move quickly in this transfer, something that manager Arsene Wenger is notoriously not great at. With a £50m valuation by his current club, some teams may lose interest in the player, but Arsenal should be able to afford such a deal.
With Olivier Giroud’s inconsistency and Theo Walcott’s lack of strength at centre forward, the north London side arguably need a long-term solution at the no.9 position and Morata is the top name on their list to be just that. Time is on his side, he has proven himself at two of the biggest clubs in the world, he has UEFA Champions League experience, and possesses a great balance of pace and power.
Morata is used to playing in a two-striker formation at Juventus, but going to Arsenal would bring him back to his roots where he played alone up top with Real Madrid. In supporters eyes, they will hope he will be the second coming of Thierry Henry or 2011/12 Robin van Persie, but without the transfer demand at the end of the season.
Morata is regarded by many as one of the best young strikers in Europe, and Arsene Wenger would be wise to splash the cash on the Spaniard before bigger, richer clubs start throwing money at the 23-year-old.
