Chelsea trying to force €50m Morata buy-option on Atlético — report

It’s a story that’s been simmering around the edge of Spanish media — Mostly on AS with Atlético “fearful” of Chelsea recalling Álvaro Morata from his 18-month at the 6-month mark — but it hadn’t really made much sense until it was framed in the way Matt Law of the Telegraph reported it yesterday.

The situation hinges on a clause that was built-in to Morata’s long-term loan to Atlético, namely that if Chelsea activate the recall clause, Atlético have the option to gazump that by paying the €50m buyout. And since Morata doesn’t want to leave, if Chelsea do activate the clause — regardless of whether we actually want the striker or not), Atlético would be forced into paying the transfer fee that they apparently don’t want to pay this summer.

So, conversely, Morata could get recalled if Atlético fail to activate the buyout, and that’s the story that frames this latest report as well.

While Morata has scored 6 goals in 15 appearances since joining Atlético, and he very much wants to stay, they had not been in a great hurry to make his stay permanent. So this is perhaps one way Chelsea are hoping to clear the books and keep Morata in Madrid for good.