Arsenal transfer news: Gunners to target Alvaro Morata to replace Danny Welbeck despite Real Madrid buy-back clause

Welbeck has been ruled out for nine months after knee surgery, forcing Arsene Wenger to reshuffle his transfer plans for the summer

Alvaro Morata is being targeted as a replacement for Danny Welbeck at Arsenal (Getty)

Arsenal are ready to move for Juventus striker Alvaro Morata in a bid to replace Danny Welbeck after the club confirmed that the England forward will miss the next nine months after undergoing surgery on a knee cartilage injury.

Welbeck suffered a second serious knee injury in the space of a year during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the weekend, and the 25-year-old will not only miss the 2016 European Championships with England but also the bulk of the 2016/17 season due to his lengthy recovery.

The news is not only a blow for England but also to Arsenal’s hopes next season, with Welbeck scoring five goals since he returned from a 10-month lay-off due to a serious injury to his other knee suffered at the end of last season.

With Arsene Wenger already active in the transfer market, the Arsenal manager will need to address his attack to cover Welbeck’s absence along with the uncertainties over Olivier Giroud’s and Theo Walcott’s futures.

According to The Mirror, Arsenal have decided to step up their pursuit of Spain international Morata, with the 23-year-old nearing a Juventus exit this summer after two years with the Italian side.

The problem for Arsenal is that Morata’s former club, Real Madrid, are also keen on singing the striker and have a deal in place that allows them to buy the player back for €30m [£23.6m], although the offer must be made during a time period from 1 to the 15 of July of this year or in 2017.

Morata left Real in 2014 to join Juventus after failing to secure a regular first-team place, with the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho preferring France international Karim Benzema as the club’s lead striker.

Morata spoke earlier in the season to admit a return to Madrid could be on the cards due to the buy-back clause, although Juventus will be keen to sell elsewhere should he leave the club given they can generate significantly more than the €30m Real will pay.

Speaking to Cadena Cope in March, Morata said: “I can’t wait for the question of the re-purchase to be resolved. I’m happy in Turin, but I want to be able to know where I should buy a house. I want to know as soon as possible where I’ll be.

“I’m happy at Juventus, but returning to Madrid is a real possibility because there’s a contract, it was all already written. I just want all of this to be resolved.”


 Welbeck faces nine months out after undergoing knee surgery (Getty)
 (Getty Images)

The report also adds that that should Real win the race to sign Morata, then Arsenal will pursue Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, a player who has already cropped up on the radars of Manchester United and Chelsea and has been linked with a move to the Premier League for the past year.