Premier League transfer round-up: Tottenham aim for double signing
Arsenal and Tottenham have been dealt a deadline day transfer blow with Juventus star Alvaro Morata set to stay in Turin until the end of the season, according to reports. Both north London sides have endured a frustrating month, and fans are calling for an intense few hours until the window shuts on Monday evening.
Strikers have been a high priority for Spurs and the Gunners this month, as they attempt to sure up their respective bids for a Premier League top four spot.
They have both been left frustrated by Juve, however, who struck the first blow by snapping up prime attacking target Dusan Vlahovic.
Rival bosses Mikel Arteta and Antonio Conte had both reportedly registered an interest in Serie A high-flyer.
But the 21-year-old striker eventually opted for the Bianconeri instead, leaving both sets of fans to wonder what might have been.
Alvaro Morata looks likely to stay at Juventus for the rest of the season (Image: GETTY)
According to Fabrizio Romano, Juve and Vlahovic have inadvertently taken one last swipe at the north London duo this deadline day.
Boss Massimiliano Allegri reportedly wants Morata to stay in Italy to forge a strike partnership with their coveted £67million signing.
That effectively leaves the Spaniard with nowhere go until the end of the season, when he may be back on the market after his two-year loan spell comes to an end.
But according to The Sun, his favoured destination may not be the Premier League in light of his tough stint with Chelsea, when his finishing routinely came under heavy scrutiny.
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Morata's decision to stay with Juve will also come as a blow to Barcelona, who were believed to be weighing up a move for the striker this month.
But it leaves Spurs, and particularly Arsenal in the lurch when it comes to their hunt for a striker on deadline day.
Arteta faces an attacking exodus at the Emirates over the next few months, which could be kickstarted by the potential departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eddie Nketiah.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is reportedly on the verge of joining Barcelona (Image: GETTY)
And things may not end there, with Alexandre Lacazette set to be out of contract at the end of the campaign.
Even so, the Gunners are yet to bring in replacements, or indeed any new signings as the January window edges towards its conclusion.
With Morata off the market, both Arsenal and their local rivals must now go back to the drawing board, or risk going without for the remainder of the season.