Chelsea transfer news: Blues make Alvaro Morata plans for Christian Pulisic move
CHELSEA could use Borussia Dortmund’s interest in striker Alvaro Morata to try and push for a deal for winger Christian Pulisic.
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That’s the stunning claim of the Daily Mail.
The Bundesliga outfit have been linked with a move for Morata who endured a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge following a strong start.
The Spanish striker, absent from this summer’s World Cup, cost a club-record £70million fee - £58m up-front - in signing from Real Madrid.
But after seven goals in his first eight games, he returned only 15 goals across the entire season in 48 appearances and came in for criticism on numerous occasions for wasting fine goalscoring opportunities.
With Antonio Conte set to leave the club this summer and be replaced by former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri, Dortmund - who had a successful loan spell with another Chelsea striker, Michy Batshuayi, last term - have been linked with a permanent deal.
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And though the Belgian scored seven goals in 10 games for the Bundesliga outfit before getting injured, it is said that they have turned their attentions to Morata.
The Mail say that the Blues could use that to their advantage as they seek to beat the likes of Bayern Munich and Liverpool to Pulisic, reportedly rated at around £60m.
The 19-year-old is regarded as the future of the United States having scored nine goals in his first 21 international appearances for the US national team.
His form for Dortmund has been similarly impressive and he plundered five goals and four assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances in 2017-18.
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The Mail say that Pulisic has been identified as a top summer target in case Real Madrid follow up their interest in Eden Hazard and Willian leaves to Manchester United.
According to the report, Chelsea have also held discussions with Juventus midfielder Miralem Panic, Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and Atletico Madrid defender Stefan Savic, formerly of Manchester City.
Chelsea are currently in negotiations with current manager Antonio Conte and his backroom staff as to the compensation package the Italian and his team will receive after they are released from their contracts.
The west London club will then finally complete a deal to make Sarri their new manager.