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Chelsea transfer news: Alvaro Morata tells Blues he wants to join Atletico Madrid
ALVARO MORATA has told Chelsea he wants to leave Stamford Bridge and join Atletico Madrid, it has been claimed.
Morata joined the Blues in the summer of 2017 from Real Madrid for a fee of £60million.
The Spain international enjoyed a blistering start to life as a Chelsea player, scoring ten goals in his first 16 matches for the west Londoners.
Morata found the back of the net a further five times last season and his struggles have continued this campaign, in which he’s scored nine goals in 24 appearances.
Chelsea are keen to offload the 26-year-old and bring in a new striker this month, with Juventus’ Gonzalo Higuain top of their wish list.
Atletico Madrid are understood to be keen on offering the former Real man a route out of west London, though they’ve coy remained on their interest in him.
Morata is said to be unhappy in London and has reportedly told Chelsea and Atletico chiefs he wants to move back to Spain.
On Tuesday, Libertad Digital reported that Morata has already ‘communicated’ his desire to leave Chelsea and has said ‘yes’ to a move to Atletico.
They claim in order for the deal to go through the Blues must first acquire Higuain’s services and Atletico offload either Nikola Kalinic or Gelson Martins to ‘give space’ for Morata.
Alvaro Morata has reportedly told Chelsea he wants to leave the club and join Atletico Madrid
Atletico boss Diego Simeone was quizzed about the club’s pursuit of Morata on Tuesday evening but refused to be drawn on the matter.
“The only thing I’m thinking about is the upcoming match against Levante,” Simeone told reporters.
“I don’t speak about players that aren’t with us, only those that are.
“I can’t confirm or deny anything because coaches wait to see what the club can do.
“Some players want more minutes, some could be sold by the club, some could arrive. We need to wait until January 31."
Chelsea are willing to let Morata leave the Bridge this month, so long as they can replace the Spaniard.
‘If Morata goes to another club we need a replacement," Blues manager Maurizio Sarri said. "At the moment Morata is here, so he has to think only about playing.
"In this moment in Europe, there are 300 players involved in the market.
"They only need to think about the next match otherwise it’s impossible to play.’
Chelsea will next be in action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to the Emirates to take on fifth-placed Arsenal.
A win in north London will move the Blues nine points clear of Unai Emery’s side and seriously dent the Gunners’ hopes of claiming fourth spot.
Atletico, meanwhile, take on Girona this evening in the second leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie.