Arsenal Transfer News: Alvaro Morata Boost Amid Juventus Talk, Latest Rumours

Juventus are reportedly looking to replace Alvaro Morata with Domenico Berardi, as Real Madrid want to bring the Spaniard back to the Bernabeu and then sell him to Arsenal in a big-money move.

According to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), Los Blancos will buy back Morata for €30 million in order to sell him to the Gunners for a profit.

Gazzetta (h/t Calciomercato's Steve Mitchell) add that Arsenal have already put forward a £50 million bid to Real. According to AS (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Sun), Morata would like to stay with the Bianconeri but he "would jump at the chance to join the Gunners if he is forced to leave Italy, with the youngster a big fan of Premier League football."

After yet another season with Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott comprising Arsenal's first-choice forward options, it's clear a quality centre-forward is needed at the Emirates Stadium if the Gunners want to sustain a title challenge.

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Morata bagged 12 goals and as many assists for Juve this season—a respectable if unspectacular tally, and one he would need to improve upon at Arsenal.

However, the 23-year-old has an admirer in GianlucaDiMarzio's David Amoyal:

Indeed, the forward's pace, power and dribbling add to the threat he poses, while his tenacity and work-rate are similarly impressive.

After Morata netted the decisive goal in the Coppa Italia final—in which he played just 12 minutes—BT Sport's James Horncastle noted his tendency to find the net in big games:

His ability to thrive under pressure would undoubtedly come in handy for Arsenal, who have earned a reputation for mental fragility in recent years.

At the reported fee, he would naturally be something of a gamble and his week-to-week goal output still needs to be improved. But he is already on his way to being an exceptional player and could be an outstanding signing.

An alternative could be Sporting Lisbon's Islam Slimani. According to Portuguese TV station SIC Noticias (h/t Aaron Flanagan of the Mirror), Arsenal are among those interested in the striker, who has a €30 million (£23.25 million) release clause.

The 27-year-old bagged 31 goals for Sporting this season. Here are some of his highlights:

Sporting manager Jorge Jesus is hoping the Algerian will stay put: "I would like for Slimani to stay. This area is for the president. The coach also has a say, and [the Sporting president] knows my opinion. At present, €30 million for a player like Slimani is nothing."

He too would be a little risky—netting in the Premier League requires a step up from Portugal—but could be virtually half the price of Morata.

The Gunners are in desperate need of more firepower this summer, but they need to weigh up their options carefully when it comes to the likes of Morata and Slimani.