4 Strikers Juventus Could Target to Replace Alvaro Morata
As many supporters had feared he would, Alvaro Morata returned to Real Madrid this summer. Announcing the deal to very little fanfare on their official website, the Spanish club exercised the option to re-sign the 23-year-old that had been inserted in the agreement that took him to Turin.
Juve's official website stated that price would be "a maximum of €30 million" when he joined the Bianconeri in 2014, but more than just the low fee, it is the gaping hole Morata leaves in their attack that will most concern coach Massimiliano Allegri ahead of the 2016/17.
Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic may have been his favoured strike partnership last season, but the Spain international proved to be an extremely valuable weapon on numerous occasions—particularly in the Champions League.
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“Morata is potentially a player who could become one of the top two or three in the world in a few years,” Juventus captain Gigi Buffon told Marca (h/t Football Italia) back in September. “He has a physical presence, he makes sacrifices and he’s humble. He’s a complete forward—the difference between a good player and a great player is the mentality.”
A combination of directness, pace and ability to deliver in the biggest games make Morata the perfect player to help stretch the defences of the best sides on the continent. As discussed in this previous post, finding a replacement will be a difficult but essential task during the summer transfer window.
What follows is a look at a number of players who could step up and fill that void, paying attention to those forwards who have been linked with Juventus and looking at how they could fit into Allegri's side next term.
Edinson Cavani
One of the main factors the Bianconeri must consider this summer is the aforementioned pace Morata brought into the side, an attribute their other attackers lack. Like Mario Mandzukic and Simone Zaza, Edinson Cavani—a player repeatedly discussed as a target for the Italian champions—is a more physical forward.
Fortunately, Juve have distanced themselves from those rumours, with director general Beppe Marotta telling Radio Kiss Kiss (h/t ESPN FC) back in April that “there's no possibility of us signing him.”
Given he scored just two goals in 10 Champions League appearances for Paris Saint-Germain last term, the Uruguay international is no longer the devastating attacking player who came to prominence with Napoli and is almost certainly not a man Juventus should be targeting.
Alexandre Lacazette
While Cavani’s time in France has seen him fade from the spotlight, there is little doubt that Alexandre Lacazette has become increasingly comfortable when it shines upon him. The 25-year-old is believed to be available this summer, although Olympique Lyonnais owner Jean-Michel Aulas has made it clear any bids should not arrive close to the September 1 deadline.
“If on August 28 we receive [a bid of] €80million he will not leave,” he told L'Equipe (h/t FourFourTwo). “On the other hand, if they come to me in the days to come with an offer I cannot refuse then it is possible.”
The Bianconeri might not be willing to spend quite that much, but Lacazette—who has scored 48 goals in his last 66 Ligue 1 appearances—could be a superb acquisition and a player well-equipped to help in European competition.
Comfortable playing on the counter-attack, he would be an ideal complement to Juve's strikers but would expect to feature regularly, as he explained in a January interview with Jason Burt of the Telegraph.
“I was not ready then and my goal is not to go to England for the sake of going to England and I don’t want to go to a club and sit on the bench,” Lacazette said when asked about transfer speculation. “So at that time it was not hard for me to stay here. It was a question of waiting until I was ready and I am now ready this summer.”
"What a goal by France. Lacazette's first goal with the national team. #LesBleus https://t.co/K6qqP2IIw1
— Khaled Al Nouss (@KhaledAlNouss) March 29, 2015"
Much like Lacazette, Everton’s Romelu Lukaku is seemingly ready for a move this summer and has been linked with Juventus on a number of occasions. Indeed, the Daily Telegraph (h/t Forza Italian Football) has already discussed the former Chelsea striker as a potential replacement for Morata in Turin.
In an interesting twist, the Belgium international revealed in a recent interview with So Foot (h/t Football Italia) that he came close to joining the Bianconeri in the past and is keen to find a club that matches his ambition:
"In the past, the days of West Bromwich [Albion], I was a step away from Juventus. But [agent] Mino Raiola told me in no uncertain terms that before a move like that I would have to be more consistent and aggressive on the field.
I am an ambitious guy; I want to win trophies, like all other players handled by Mino, like Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I want a club that targets the Champions League.
"
"Tôi đã thêm video vào danh sách phát https://t.co/G09UMZUw8D Romelu Lukaku ■ Amazing Goals & Skills Show 2015/16 ■ HD trên
— David Payne (@DavidPayne07) January 10, 2016"
Having bagged an impressive 61 goals in 127 Everton appearances, Lukaku would appear to have all the tools to succeed on the peninsula and could fill the void created by the departure of Juve’s Spanish star.
Alvaro Morata
Yes, him again. In looking for a player to bring what Juve’s strikers lack, who better fits the bill than Morata?
Real Madrid’s official website noted the 23-year-old “will join up with the first team for pre-season training under the command of [coach] Zinedine Zidane,” but the player himself seemed much less certain in an interview with Cuatro (h/t Football Italia):
"I don’t have to prove anything to Zidane and Real Madrid. I’m not a Castilla player who is getting the chance to train with Real Madrid. The club will decide if I am to stay or not, but if I do continue my adventure in Madrid, I’ll give my all to earn a starting spot.
If that doesn’t happen, then we will find a different solution. As of today I am a Real Madrid player and I cannot say anything else. I’d love to stay at Real Madrid, but I want to be important for a team and be in with a chance of starting.
"
Many in Turin would be delighted to see him back in the club’s famous black-and-white stripes, with Juventus already having the aforementioned €30 million fee they received from the Santiago Bernabeu side to add to any future bid.
That could make Morata not only the most suitable signing Juventus could make, but also the cheapest given the projected fees of the aforementioned players. In short, bringing him back could be the perfect solution for the Old Lady of Italian football.
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