Will Alvaro Morata leave Chelsea in the current transfer window?

According to Sky Sports, Premier League Chelsea will demand £62million for Spanish striker Alvaro Morata this summer. The report suggests that the Blues are in discussions with Italy giants AC Milan over the sale of the Spaniard.

I have to say I had liked what I saw of Morata at his previous clubs before last summer’s move to Chelsea. He looked to have all the attributes of a potentially top forward, apart from maybe a touch of pace.

Struggled to replace Costa a Chelsea

Morata had big boots to fill when he joined the Blues last summer from Real Madrid, as he arrived as a replacement for Spanish international striker Diego Costa. The Brazilian-born striker had rediscovered his mojo in his final year at Stamford Bridge, his goals guiding Chelsea to the Premier League title.

Costa’s goals were always going to be hard to replace. However, it was his character and personality that was going to be harder to replace. Costa was a pest, a striker that defenders hated to play against. He was a snarly hulk of a man on the pitch.

Morata, on the other hand, is a rather more likeable guy. He comes across a completely different character from Costa. The striker arrived at the club with questions over his mental strength, which have yet to be answered in south west London.

The accusation of Morata being ‘too nice’ may just have some weight to it. The striker scored 11 Premier League goals last season in 31 appearances. However, he seemed to lack a ruthless edge to his game, one of Costa’s strengths.

A different league could suit Morata

Morata was a success in Italy with Juventus in his previous stint in Serie A, while the striker also enjoyed sporadic success at Real Madrid when given the chance. In truth, maybe the English game has got the better of him.

The striker seems to be ideal for the Premier League, in the fact that he is an intelligent forward who is good in the air. However, at times last season, he was not strong enough and seemed to lack confidence in front of goal.

Those two flaws can be fatal for a forward playing for a team expected to challenge at the top of the Premier League. Inferior teams will attempt to rattle a Chelsea striker with their physicality, even if the English game is not as tough as it once was.

Morata’s failure to be clinical in front of goal last season also cost his team at times. The striker received criticism from fans and the British media alike for his wayward finishing.

A move will not make him a better finisher. However, a new environment away from the famously vicious British press may help him fulfil some of his potential.

Morata may have to stay put

If media reports are accurate, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri wants to sign Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain, but the Argentinian is on the Rossoneri’s transfer shortlist alongside Morata this summer. Higuain is believed to favour a switch to Milan over a move to London.

Despite those reports, Higuain is odds of 1/ 2 to join Chelsea before the summer transfer window shuts, compared to odds of 9/4 to join AC Milan. The fact that Higuain fancies a move to the San Siro rather than Stamford Bridge could complicate things.

Chelsea will only sell Morata if they have a replacement. AC Milan are seemingly the only club showing an interest in the Spanish striker, so if the Rossoneri managed to signature Higuain’s signature, then Morata may well stay put in south west London.

It seems that AC Milan and Chelsea are a fair distance apart in the player’s valuation. Therefore, the striker may stay with the Blues, despite seemingly not being the striker Sarri wants to lead his attack.

Will Alvaro Morata leave Chelsea in the current transfer window?