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Alvaro Morata cuts honeymoon short to speed up Manchester United move
ALVARO MORATA has broken his honeymoon to return to Madrid in a bid to speed up his proposed move to Manchester United.
Real Madrid star Alvaro Morata is targeted by Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho wants the Real Madrid striker to replace Zlatan Ibrahinmovic as his new No.9 and the Spain international is keen on the move to Old Trafford.
The two men are understood to have spoken on the phone but both are growing frustrated by the transfer stalemate with Real holding out for around £79m while United’s valuation is around £60m.
Morata, 24, is planning showdown talks with Real president Florentino Perez and coach Zinedine Zidane to inform them face-to-face of his desire to reunite with Mourinho and to try to persuade them to lower their valuation in time for a deal to be struck before United fly out for their pre-season tour to USA on July 9.
But Real want as much money out of United as possible to finance their proposed £100m-plus deal for Monaco wonderboy Kylian Mbappe.
They would also prefer to delay any deal for Morata until after the European Super Cup clash with United in FYROM on August 8.
Meanwhile another Mourinho target Ivan Perisic is set to reject a new contract offer from Inter Milan in a bid to force through his move to United.
I will try with all my strength to transfer my working method and my convictions to the team
Inter want the Croatia winger to sign an improved deal to justify their £44m asking price that is way above United’s £30m valuation.
But Perisic has set his heart on moving to Old Trafford and Manchester United are hoping his stance plus the fact that Inter need to raise £30m to balance their books and avoid a £7m fine from UEFA for breaching financial fair play rules will force the deal through.
Former Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund player Perisic scored 13 goals and claimed nine assists last season but Inter boss Luiano Spaletti says he only wants players who are committed to the cause.
“I will try with all my strength to transfer my working method and my convictions to the team,” he said. “Anyone who works with me must feel totally convinced. That’s to Inter as a team, not as individuals.
“These players have a lot of quality but then everyone thinks they’ve done their bit and that doesn’t work as a collective. Every player feels like they are owed something whereas they need to worry about giving something.”