Transfer News: Chelsea yet to initiate Alvaro Morata talks with Real Madrid over fears of Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois approach

Chelsea are yet to initiate talks with Real Madrid over a move for Alvaro Morata in the summer transfer window.

According to a report in the London Evening Standard, Chelsea have not begun negotiations with Real Madrid over a move for Alvaro Morata in the summer transfer window as they fear that Los Blancos will use their interest in the Spaniard as leverage for a move for Eden Hazard or Thibaut Courtois.

Morata has long been linked with a summer exit from the Santiago Bernabeu after what has been a frustrating return to Real Madrid this season. The Spain international has often found himself playing second fiddle to Karim Benzema, as a result of which he has started just 18 games across all competitions this season.

Morata’s numbers, though, suggest that he might deserve a lot more playing time as he has found the back of the net 20 times in addition to providing six assists. That is three more goals than Benzema, who has played over 1000 more minutes than the Spaniard.

His scoring rate of 90 minutes per goal trumps Benzema’s as well, who has scored a goal every 176 minutes. Despite all this, Zinedine Zidane has preferred to stick by his compatriot for large parts of the season.

Thus, it is not surprising that Morata is not happy with his situation at Real Madrid and pondering over a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer. If he indeed ends up leaving the Spanish giants there would be no dearth of supporters interested in securing his services.

The likes of Juventus, AC Milan and Manchester United have all been linked with a move for Morata in the summer transfer window, but Chelsea seem to be leading the race to sign him, with the player, himself, keen to work under Antonio Conte.

Indeed, Chelsea are scouting the market for a top quality striker, with the future of Diego Costa mired in heavy uncertainty. Morata is a player who the Chelsea boss admires a lot, and he presents himself as a more appealing prospect as he would cost far less than Romelu Lukaku, the Blues’ other summer target.

However, Chelsea fear that Real Madrid would use their interest in Morata as leverage to negotiate moves for Eden Hazard or Thibaut Courtois. Los Blancos are eager to sign an attacker as well as a goalkeeper in the summer and have identified the Chelsea duo as two of their top targets.

There have even been suggestions that Real Madrid could use Morata as a makeweight in a bid to land Eden Hazard – something that Chelsea do not fancy at all. And while David De Gea remains the preferred target for Zidane, Courtois could be a player he moves for if the Manchester United goalkeeper can’t be acquired.

It now remains to be seen if Chelsea can secure the services of Morata in the summer, with fears of a Real Madrid swoop for Eden Hazard or Thibaut Courtois looming large.