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Chelsea’s frustrating striker search continues with the news that Álvaro Morata is possibly on his way to AC Milan from Real Madrid. The news that Chelsea are low-balling, if bidding at all, for another world-class talent isn’t shocking as much as AC Milan are looking to make another major signing after the Bonucci deal.
Milan are reportedly willing to pay Morata £167,000-a-week, £17,000-a-week more than Chelsea were willing to offer the Spaniard. They’re also getting closer to the €94m (£80m) asking price that Real have set for Morata.
After losing out on Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United, and now possibly Morata to Milan, Chelsea are in serious and likely danger of losing out on the two long-rumoured top choices to replace Diego Costa. Replacing Costa is a must after his summer decisions, assuming that Batshuayi is a capable backup but nothing more, and Remy is likely on his way out.
It was assumed that Chelsea would bolster the position with the signing of a top class striker, but as mentioned by Simon Johnson of the Evening Standard, the club simply don’t seem willing to spend the money required to make that happen.
Trouble is, £70m (or €80m) is what the best attacking players and out-and-out strikers go for nowadays, and prices are only increasing given the ridiculous amounts flowing into the Premier League from TV broadcast rights.
- Gonzalo Higuaín €90m
- Luis Suarez €82.3m
- Romelu Lukaku £75-90m
Chelsea are unlikely to find a striker in that “world-class” tier without ponying up the funds necessary to do so. Recent rumors point to a pursuit of Torino's Andrea Belotti or Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Belotti’s buyout clause is €100m while Aubameyang’s asking price is at least €70m. Perhaps this is why the latter is looking more likely, though BVB have yet to receive any offers and time is running out for Chelsea to make a move.
This situation could lead to an interesting reconciliation with Costa, or perhaps the long-shot of an unexpected name coming out of nowhere to fill the void. Because if what we have seen so far continues, Chelsea won’t end up with any of the big names linked thus far.