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Arsenal transfer news: Alvaro Morata to return to Real Madrid as Chelsea and Spurs eye bidding war for striker

Real and Juventus have confirmed that Morata will move back to Spain this summer, but he is expected to be sold on immediately

Jack de Menezes

Wednesday 22 June 2016 08:23 BST

Alvaro Morata will return to Real Madrid in a £23.6m deal (Getty)

Arsenal, Chelsea and Totenham are all preparing bids for Juventus striker Alvaro Morata after it was confirmed on Tuesday that he will return to Real Madrid in a buy-back deal.

Real have agreed to pay £23.6m in order to re-sign Morata just two years after allowing him to leave for Juventus in a £16m deal, although the 23-year-old is not expected to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu for long.

A statement released by Real on Tuesday evening read: “Real Madrid C. F. have informed Juventus FC of their decision to salvage the federative rights on the player Álvaro Morata, who will join up with the first team for pre-season training under the command of Zinedine Zidane.”

It came after Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta confirmed the Italian champion’s fear that Real would come calling for their academy product. Marotta said on Tuesday afternoon: “Real Madrid are going to exercise their right to buy him back. We’re just waiting for them to get in touch and then we’ll see, but the chance of him staying is slim.”

A number of Premier League clubs are interested in the 23-year-old with Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs all heavily linked, while there remains interest from Manchester United and also French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal striker transfer targets

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1/10Arsenal striker transfer targets

Arsenal striker transfer targets

Alvaro Morata (Juventus)

Morata looks certain to leave Juventus, but his destination remains unknown. Real Madrid lead the pursuit for the Spain international given they can activate a €30m [£23.6m] release clause in his contract after 1 July, but Juventus will be keen to sell elsewhere given they can command a much bigger fee based on is valutation. Morata would represent a proven goalscorer that Arsenal have lacked in recent years, having fired Juventus to two Serie A title and last season’s Champions League final.

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Arsenal striker transfer targets

Edinson Cavani (PSG)

Cavani is ready to end his Paris Saint-Germain career and move on to pastures new, having grown unhappy at playing second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who himself is poised to leave the club this summer. Having played in both Serie A and Ligue 1, Cavani has admitted that he would like to play in the Premier League, and the Gunners have been linked with the Uruguay international in the past.

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Arsenal striker transfer targets

Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli)

Arsenal missed out on Higuain when he left Real Madrid in 2013, having had a bid accepted for the Argentine only to see Napoli storm in and snap up the striker. However, Higuain could be on his way out of Naples, with the club looking to freshen their squad up in a bid to go one better and build on this season’s likely second-place finish to challenge champions Juventus.

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Arsenal striker transfer targets

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Benzema may be another who finds his time is up at his current club, with Real expected to make a major signing of their own in the summer to try and add to the threat of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. While his two cohorts take the headlines in Madrid, Benzema remains one of the most prolific finishers in European football, and the Gunners showed genuine interest in the France international last summer only to decide against meeting Real’s valuation.

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Arsenal striker transfer targets

Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)

Sturridge’s future has grown uncertain since Jurgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool. The striker has reiterated his commitment to the club and helped them reach the Europa League final, but he has also shown a dissatisfaction at times when Klopp has left him out of the side. Arsenal were reported to be interested in the striker, but strained tensions between the two clubs following the Gunners’ interest in Luis Suarez could scupper any potential deal.

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Arsenal striker transfer targets

Neymar (Barcelona)

A move for the Brazilian superstar would certainly be one of the biggest shocks of the summer, but his future in Barcelona is uncertain and the Catalans could be forced into selling him due to their increasing financial troubles. United have again shown interest in Neymar, but there is no reason to suggest that Arsenal can’t challenge them financially for Neymar’s signature and he would certainly fit into Arsene Wenger’s style of football.

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Arsenal striker transfer targets

Radamel Falcao (Monaco)

The Colombian has failed at both Manchester United and Chelsea, and is due to return to Monaco at the end of the season after a torturous two-year spell in England. But could he remain upon these shores and join Arsenal? With Monaco keen to sell and Falcao scoring a total of six goals in two years, the former Atletico Madrid forward would be available for a much lower fee than was touted 12 months ago, and you can guarantee that one big club playing in European competition will decide to take the risk on Falcao.

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Arsenal striker transfer targets

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)

The Gabon international is emerging as one of the most lethal finishers in Europe, having scored 25 goals in the Bundesliga this season and 30 in all competitions. Both Arsenal and Tottenham have been linked with Aubameyang, and the Gunners have sent scouts to watch the 26-year-old, with the club keeping an eye on him given Borussia Dortmund’s inability to hold on to their biggest players.

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Arsenal striker transfer targets

Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan)

The Inter Milan forward has emerged as a possible alternative to Morata, and at 23 years old Icardi would certainly offer Arsenal an option for a number of years. Icardi has scored 16 goals in Serie A this season, firing Inter back into European contention, but his form has caught the eye of the likes of Chelsea and United. However, the Inter captain has stressed that he will remain with the Italian club for next season, yet Arsenal could yet persuade him to move to the Emirates with the carrot of Champions League football.

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Arsenal striker transfer targets

Romelu Lukaku (Everton)

Lukaku is expected to leave under-performing Everton in the summer after admitting he wants to play in the Champions League next season. United have always been the front-runners for Lukaku, although a return to former club Chelsea has also been reported, while PSG are keeping an eye on the strong Belgian. However, Lukaku would certainly boost the Arsenal squad, and at 22 years old he could be the striker that Arsenal can build their squad around in the future.

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According to The Times, Chelsea are leading the way to land the Spain international – who scored in their 2-1 Euro 2016 defeat by Croatia on Tuesday night – with incoming manager Antonio Conte proving a pivotal figure in signing Morata for Juventus two years ago.

Summer 2016 Transfer Window - Done deals and rumours

Morata has scored 27 goals in all competitions across two seasons for Juventus, although his record of seven Serie A goals last season is certainly a concern for a striker who is expected to cost as much as £50m if Real ship him on immediately.

Chelsea are determined to sign a new striker this summer with Loic Remy, Alexandre Pato and Radamel Falcao all expected to leave the club. Falcao has already confirmed he will be reporting back for pre-season with Monaco after a disastrous loan spell with Chelsea, while Pato is expected to return to Corinthians after failing to impress during his loan move. With Remy expected to be sold, Conte will be left with just Diego Costa as an experienced strike option.

Arsenal are also keen on a new striker given that Danny Welbeck will not play again in 2016 due to a second serious knee injury in as many weeks. With Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott failing to impress during the 2015/16 season as Arsenal missed out on the title to Leicester City, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could finally move for a big name striker, having watched Morata closely when he left Real in 2014.

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