Premier League side Chelsea have reportedly opened talks with Juventus over a move for striker Alvaro Morata.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte seems intent on bringing Alvaro Morata to Stamford Bridge. According to the Mirror, the new Chelsea boss has been a long-time fan of the striker and is keen on working with him. However, any deal for the Spanish striker would be complicated as Real Madrid could invoke their buy-back clause and make a move for the former Los Blancos starlet.
After enduring a painful Premier League campaign last season, Chelsea are desperate to bring world-class players to the club and boost the morale in the dressing room. Diego Costa has scored 12 goals in 28 appearances, but his highly erratic nature makes him a questionable option as the club’s first-choice striker. With new manager Antonio Conte set to tweak the formation, he can find a system in which both Costa and Morata could fit in.
Diego Costa: Has committed more fouls (40) than any other Chelsea player in the Premier League this season #cfc pic.twitter.com/nCyGcPZ9IX
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) April 1, 2016
However, while Morata is a composed finisher, he hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons at Juventus, finding the back of the net only 12 times in 47 appearances. With Real Madrid interested in invoking a buy-back clause at £24 million, there are chances that his price may skyrocket, making him a risky buy for Conte. With zero Premier League experience, doubts loom about whether he would be an ideal fit for a team that needs an immediate change of fortunes.
Conte must invest defensively
Despite Chelsea’s lacklustre 2015/16 season, their strikers began to show promise in the latter stages of the season. Under interim-manager Guus Hiddink, Diego Costa turned a new leaf, which led to a rise in his goal scoring form. Chelsea’s academy product Bertrand Traore also showed tremendous signs of promise when he was fielded by the Dutch coach. And now under Antonio Conte, we will certainly see a lot more of the player from Burkina Faso.
Bertrand Traore: In just 185 minutes of action over his last 5 appearances Traore has had a direct hand in 5 goals (4 goals, 1 assist)
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 5, 2016
It would perhaps be wiser for the Chelsea boss to direct his funds towards improving the team’s defence rather than spending £40 million on Morata. Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta have both endured torrid campaigns and will be under the cosh if Conte decides to rope in new recruitments. Ivanovic at 32 is not getting any better, and it may be a clever decision to cash in on the player, while Azpilicueta has failed to maintain consistency during his time at the Bridge.
John Terry is in his final year at the club, which is all the more reason for the Italian gaffer to prepare a defensive shortlist. Matt Miazga was signed by the club in January but has failed to show the resilience needed to be a first-choice centre-half. A proven world-class centre-back is what Chelsea’s priority should be at the moment, given Antonio Conte’s tendency of playing three at the back.
