3) Alvaro Morata: Real Madrid
Alvaro Morata is Spain’s first-choice striker (when the Costa experiment failed) but he barely gets to start at one of the country’s biggest clubs. Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has persisted with Karim Benzema up front in spite of his poor form and Morata has been reduced to a backup striker who warms the bench.
Morata occasionally comes on as a substitute or starts games when squad rotation is in effect. Yet, in spite of playing fewer minutes than Benzema and Gareth Bale this season, he is second in the Liga goalscoring charts among the club’s players with 13 goals – behind Cristiano Ronaldo (20).
It comes as no surprise then that he has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu. And he is not short of any takers with Chelsea very much interested in bringing him to Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Conte was the manager who sanctioned the deal to first bring him to Juventus but the Italian manager never got the chance to use him as he took up the job with the Italian national team. Now, he may finally get his wish with reports claiming that a £63 bid may see him move to London.
“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. And yet I’ve never had the fortune to actually work with him. I’m sure sooner or later I will.” – Morata on Conte
However, there are reports that claim Morata may move to Old Trafford to work with former boss Jose Mourinho. It was the former Madrid boss who handed Morata a debut as a youngster. Could Manchester United go for Morata if they fail to sign their other targets?