According to the latest reports, Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has revealed that he is interested in signing a world-class centre-forward after being linked with out of favor Chelsea forward Alvaro Morata in the January transfer window. With things looking bleak for the Spanish international at Stamford Bridge, he could well decide to leave the club and look for football elsewhere after failing to adapt to the English Premier League.
Ever since Maurizio Sarri took over as Chelsea manager in the summer of 2018, the Blues are looking quite a formidable unit and have been quite assertive in their football.
Sarri was handed the reins from fellow Italian Antonio Conte and has done an admirable job so far guiding Chelsea to fourth place in the Premier League table after 22 games. Chelsea has also eased past their Europa League Group Stage going unscathed and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup. Famous pundits and fans across the world have hailed Sarri for his eye-catching and attacking football that he has brought to the Premier League. Despite all the success in his short spell as manager, Chelsea seems to be miles behind leaders of the pack Liverpool and 2nd place Manchester City. The West London outfit has a serious problem in their front line as they are in dire need of a goalscoring centre-forward.
Signing from Real Madrid back in the summer of 2017 for a hefty price of £60 million, Chelsea fans had massive expectations from Alvaro Morata but have been thoroughly disappointed. Morata struggled to adapt under former manager Antonio Conte but things have not really gone better with Sarri in charge. Chelsea even signed Olivier Giroud last winter transfer window and the 32-year-old Frenchman was preferred ahead of Morata. The Blues also signed Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund and the American international forward will arrive at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, which could be the final nail in the coffin for Morata’s Chelsea career.
However, the former Real Madrid superstar, who won the Champions League with the Los Blancos back in 2014 could be handed a lifeline and a return to La Liga as Spanish side Barcelona are keen on his services. The La Liga champions are leading the table this season but manager Ernesto Valverde has revealed that there is still room for a striker in their squad and he could look into the transfer market in order to solve the issue. While speaking to news outlet Sport, the Spaniard said, “There is space [for a new striker] with Munir leaving. The window is open and we will see if we can bring someone in. If not, we will look to the B team.”
The 26-year-old Morata has already scored seven times this season in all competitions and has won titles in Italy as well as Spain but he hasn’t really adapted to life in England. Even Barcelona’s Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid are monitoring Morata’s situation at the English capital and a winter move could be on the cards for Morata.
