5 potential replacements for Alvaro Morata at Chelsea

These are not the best of times for Morata. Once tipped as the golden boy who would be the great number 9 for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, things are not working well at Chelsea.

The Spanish striker was never fully trusted by successive managers at the Santiago Bernabeu and never got the game time he wanted. It was felt that following his £70m move to Stamford Bridge, things would fall into place for him.

In his first few games for Chelsea, he looked like the answer to all of the club's striking players. Brilliant aerially, his intelligence, hold-up play, pace and deadliness in front of goal had fans singing his praises.

It was felt that he would be the perfect replacement for his fellow Spaniard: Diego Costa who had been imperious during his 3-year spell at the club. Unfortunately, it seems that Morata has gone the way of Fernando Torres; a big-money Spanish striker who failed to deliver in a blue shirt.

With just 3 goals so far this season and his continued lacklustre displays, Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri may ask for the club to cut its losses in January.

Here is a look at 5 potential replacements for the Spanish striker at Stamford Bridge:

#5 Krystof Piatek (AC Genoa)

Piatek has been on fire for Genoa

The hottest striking property in European football right now, the 23-year-old Polish has had a barnstorming start to life in Serie A.

Following his move from Cracovia Kraków to Italy for £4.05m at the beginning of the season, he has been on fire for the I Rossoblu (The Red and Blues). In just 8 games in Italy's top flight, he has hit 9 goals.

A natural goalscorer capable of scoring all kinds of goals; Piatek is not just a good goalscorer, he is so much more. He is more than capable of holding his own on foot races across short distances. He is also adept at ghosting into the box to finish off moves and has often been the first line of defence for Genoa this season.

His strength on and off the ball makes him a good option as he could be able to hold the ball up better than Morata has been doing. He isn't the best dribbler but his strength and intelligence would help him bring the midfielders into play whenever the team has to attack.

It is unclear how much Genoa will ask for his services but given his growing reputation, it won't be cheap.

#4 Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)

Werner's versatility could be of great benefit if signed by Chelsea

German football is struggling at the moment and it seems to have taken Werner along with it. The 22-year-old German international has established himself as one of the better young strikers in European football.

The 2018 World Cup was supposed to be his breakout tourney but Joachim Loew's confused tactics along with the failure of the more senior players meant the former world champions never did anything of note in Russia.

Quick, intelligent and deadly in front of goal, the young German has the makings of a very good striker, the type Chelsea is in need of at the moment. His movement and ability to create an extra yard of space is very good. This allows him to get an extra yard to get ahead of opposing defenders or create space for teammates.

His blistering speed means he is comfortable playing as a winger if need be. If Chelsea were to get him in, he could play a similar role as Dries Mertens was playing for Sarri at Napoli. His movement and intelligence mean space could open up in the middle for players like Hazard or Ross Barkley to move into when defenders try to track Werner's movements.

RB Leipzig will not lose their prize asset easily. Incoming RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann has reportedly stated that Werner is one of the key players he will count on. Any bid for the player may likely start at the £70 million mark.

#3 Andrea Belotti (Torino)

Belotti has been on Chelsea's radar for a while

Belotti is a player that has been linked to the Blues for a while. Nicknamed Il Gallo (The Rooster) due to his antics whenever he scores, Belotti was seen as the future of the Italian national team; Gli Azzurri (The Blues). However, a run of serious injuries in the last two seasons has severely affected his development.

A prolific goalscorer, he is capable of scoring with both feet. He is also very fast, a hard worker and possesses a natural poacher’s instinct for knowing where the goal is. Belotti had started his career as a winger so he would find it easy to fit into Sarri's preferred 4-3-3 formation.

A technically adept player who has a good engine, he would be able to play well with the likes of Hazard and Pedro as his passing, dribbling, and movement would be of great value in the fluid, quick-passing system that Sarri favours.

The manager will be well aware of the Torino captain's quality given his Serie A experience. It is unclear how much Torino will demand with president Urbano Cairo having said before that he will not accept any amount less than €100m for the 24-year-old.

#2 Andre Silva (AC Milan but on loan at Sevilla)

Silva has been a man reborn at Sevilla

Silva is a youngster who has looked the part since he broke out for FC Porto at the rather late age of 20. In 2 seasons with Dragões (Dragons) as Porto are known, he got a very creditable total of 24 goals in 58 games.

This brought him to the attention of Italian giants AC Milan who were in desperate need of a regular goalscorer. €38 million was the sum that was paid for his services with a lot expected from him. Silva's first season in Serie A was a disaster (a paltry 2 goals in 24 Serie A games).

The loan move to Sevilla has been a godsend for Silva. Under Pablo Machin's high-pressing, always moving style, he has been a man reborn (7 goals in 9 La Liga games). A striker who is always on the move, his pace, intelligence, great sense of positioning and ability to score different types of goals has stood him out.

Very similar to Morata in terms of temperament and ability, Silva has also shown a touch of the melancholic disposition that has come to be associated with Morata. However, the Portuguese have shown to be more adaptable and physically stronger than his Spanish counterpart.

His physicality and aerial presence will serve Chelsea well if he is signed. His adaptability could make him a great fit for Sarri's system. Of the players on the list, he might be the cheapest.

#1 Mauro Icardi (Internazionale)

Gunman supreme, Icardi looks like the best option for the Blues

The man for the big occasions and goalscorer supreme, Icardi's stock has never been higher. The brightest light in what has been a dark couple of years for the Nerazzurri, his record of 113 goals in 198 games for Inter Milan is nothing short of sensational.

Intelligent, deadly, brilliant at holding the ball up and bringing in wingers and midfielders, the Argentine international has been one of the leading goalscorers in the Serie A. He has been named the Capocannoniere (top scorer in the league) twice.

His style of play has become more nuanced in recent years. He no longer drifts all over the pitch as he used to in his younger days. He stays more in the opponent's area now where he can conserve his energy and make the most impact.

He would be a dream signing as his world-class quality would fit right into Sarri's system. The midfielders will love to play with a striker of his quality as his razor-sharp finishing will ensure that their efforts won't be in vain (as has been happening with Morata).

Inter Milan will do all they can to keep their captain and biggest asset. The asking price could be something in the region of the fee; £166m PSG paid to AS Monaco for Kylian Mbappe.