MANCHESTER UNITED ARE on the verge of agreeing a deal to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata.
The club have had an agreement in principal in place with the player and his representatives for some time, but talks between the clubs have dragged on with the two parties having begun negotiations over a transfer fee some distance apart.
However, United are now confident of finalising a deal with Madrid in the coming days, with the clubs agreeing to compromise on their valuations of Morata in order for a deal to be pushed through. This comes after the player’s agent, Juanma Lopez, was locked in talks with the Blancos on Wednesday in order to negotiate his client’s exit.
But even if the clubs come to a resolution before the weekend, the 24-year-old is not likely to complete his Old Trafford medical until next week since he is due to be married to fiancée Alice Campello in Venice on Saturday.
United manager Jose Mourinho has made Morata his number one attacking target in recent weeks following Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s ACL injury and the subsequent decision by Antoine Griezmann not to leave Atletico Madrid after FIFA upheld a transfer ban on the Spanish club.
Morata has scored 31 goals in a total of 95 games for Real Madrid, including two goals in 18 appearances during Mourinho’s reign at the Santiago Bernabeu at a time when he was still playing predominantly for the club’s Castilla team in the Spanish second division.
He went on to spend two seasons on loan with Juventus between 2014 and 2016, reaching the Champions League final with the Bianconeri in 2015 thanks in large part to goals he scored in both legs of the semi-final against his parent club.
Morata would be United’s second new signing this summer following the addition of Swedish defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica for a fee which could rise to £40 million.
- Kris Voakes, Goal.com
