Arsenal Transfer News: Alvaro Morata Bid Reported, Latest Ben Chilwell Rumours

Arsenal have reportedly lodged a bid of €50 million (£38.7 million) to sign Juventus forward Alvaro Morata, with the Spaniard's former club, Real Madrid, debating whether to re-sign the player to sell him on.

BeIN Sports’ Tancredi Palmeri reported the offer on Monday:

According to John Cross of the Daily Mirror, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is on the hunt for a “top class striker” in the window, with Morata noted as the primary target.

The former Blancos man has been a big hit at Juventus since signing for the club in the summer of 2014, and as Cross noted, the Primera Division side do have a buyback clause to trigger should they wish to re-sign him. Here is a look at why Arsenal could be interested in the 23-year-old:

Morata could be the antidote for the longstanding issues the club has had at the sharp end of the pitch.

Theo Walcott has occasionally threatened to make the position his own, although after a positive start to the 2015-16 season, his form tailed off dramatically. Olivier Giroud is another player who divides opinion, with his steady link-up play, aerial prowess and cool finishing not enough to offset his lack of mobility and dynamism in the eyes of some Arsenal supporters.

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Morata blends the attributes of the two players well. He may not be as quick as Walcott or as strong as Giroud, but he’s balanced, explosive and an intelligent player. Paolo Bandini of the Guardian is a big fan and thinks he could be on the move in the window:

For the Gunners, it’d be a fine capture. Morata may not be the most instinctive striker, but he brings other players into the game with his movement and sharp link-up play. Additionally, since moving to Juventus, he has developed a penchant for popping up with goals when it matters the most, with his winner in Saturday’s Coppa Italia final the most recent example.

Tempting Real Madrid to part with the player if they bring him back would complicate matters for Arsenal, and the chance to return to Real to make an impression is something that will likely appeal to the Madridista. But so would the chance to become a key man in the setup at the Emirates Stadium, leading an attack supplemented by the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

Arsenal to Start Ben Chilwell Talks

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According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Arsenal are set to start “preliminary negotiations” with Leicester City starlet Ben Chilwell.

It’s stated the Gunners have not been deterred after having a £7 million bid for the 19-year-old rejected during the midseason transfer window.

“An Arsenal recruitment source has told Football Insider that [Wenger] has sanctioned the pursuit of Chilwell in a bid to beat Liverpool to his signature,” Veysey's report added.

Chilwell returned to Leicester earlier in the campaign after a spell on loan with Huddersfield Town, with whom he showcased a lot of exciting promise. It’s easy to see why the Gunners would be keen too, as the 19-year-old is a technical, intelligent player, balanced in his defensive and attacking duties. 

Raj Bains of uMaxit Football is a big fan of the youngster and expected him to break into the Leicester side, although Christian Fuchs has been excellent at left-back at the King Power Stadium this term:

Nacho Monreal excelled in the role this season for Arsenal, although with the Spaniard the wrong side of 30, it’d be understandable to see the club look to the future. With the right kind of guidance, Chilwell could potentially nail down a spot at the Emirates Stadium for years to come.

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The move isn’t likely to be straightforward, though, especially with Liverpool said to be keen. Chilwell could also do a lot worse than remaining with the surprise champions and pushing for a spot in the first XI next season. Claudio Ranieri’s men will have a lot of games to negotiate with European football on the agenda, and the teenager will surely get many chances to impress.