Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Leading Alvaro Morata Race, Top Rumours

Arsenal are reportedly leading Chelsea in the race to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, while manager Arsene Wenger is said to be wary about meeting the asking price for Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette.

Oddly enough, the fee for Lacazette is likely to be dwarfed by what Los Blancos demand for Morata. The Daily Mirror's Darren Lewis put the figure at a whopping £65 million: "With his agent confirming offers on the table from the Premier League, Real have set his asking price at ­£65million and this has not deterred either London outfit, who would have to break their record fees to sign him."

Juventus recently confirmed Real have activated the buy-back clause to bring Morata back to the Spanish capital, per Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports. La Liga expert Guillem Balague then told Sky Sports News HQ (h/t SkySports.com) how Los Merengues want to use Morata to raise funds to sign Juve midfielder Paul Pogba.

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

But Balague believes the 11-time European champions are asking too much for the striker: "Real have put a €75m price-tag on Morata, which I think is a little bit too much for certain clubs. What's clear, however, is both Chelsea and Arsenal are interested in the player."

Chelsea do hold a strong interest, with Spanish publication Marca (h/t James Gray of the Daily Express) recently naming the Blues as the frontrunners.

However, as Lewis noted, Arsenal have one advantage over their London rivals: "The Real Madrid striker, 23, is understood to be cooling on a move to Stamford Bridge because the Blues are without Champions League football next season."

While the fee for Morata is lavish and unrealistic, it shouldn't necessarily rule out Wenger making a move for the Spain international.

Morata is expensive, but he's also incredibly talented. Strong in the air, technically competent and deceptively quick, he has the attributes the Gunners need up front.

Still just 23, he can mature into a top-class centre-forward if he realises his potential. Wenger is the ideal coach to help him do just that.

Perhaps a deal similar to the one Manchester United handed Anthony Martial last summer could be worked out. It was a clause-laden contract that initially demanded £36 million up front, but with the potential to ultimately cost £58 million if those clauses are met.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

If Wenger could work out a similar pay structure, he'd get a more mobile target man than incumbent Olivier Giroud. The static forward's lack of pace doesn't fit with the swift, expansive attacking game Wenger wants Arsenal to play.

Wenger Reluctant to Meet Lacazette Price

It's strange that Wenger is credited with leading the way in any attempts to sign Morata, when John Cross of the Daily Mirror believes the Frenchman doesn't want to meet Lyon's demands for Lacazette: "Lyon striker Lacazette, 25, is believed to have a release clause of £34m but the French club are trying to drive the price up with several clubs interested."

Lacazette makes sense as a target because he boasts the pace and variety of movement Giroud lacks. Cross also described how those qualities "appeal" to Wenger "after Arsenal missed out on Jamie Vardy." But he also pointed out how Lacazette "would like to come to Arsenal."

This rumour gained traction when Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph reported the Gunners were willing to pay the £34.2 million fee to begin talks to sign Lacazette. Yet not everybody agrees the player's contract contains such a stipulation.

Sport Witness and Get French Football News both denied the existence of such a clause:

If there's a chance to sign Lacazette it would be a shame for Arsenal to miss it, since he's the exact kind of jet-heeled, roving and creative forward Wenger needs to lead his attack.

This is a tough market for strikers, evidenced by the type of fee being mooted even for a player as raw and inexperienced as Morata. However, the Gunners' need for better options up front may demand a calculated risk or two from Wenger when it comes to investing in fresh talent.