Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest on Alvaro Morata and Paul Pogba Rumours

Real Madrid are reportedly hopeful of doubling their money on Alvaro Morata this summer after paying €31 million (£26.4 million) to buy him back from Juventus.

That’s according to J.I. Garcia Ochoa of Marca (translated by Sarah Farrell), who reported Los Blancos have already turned down a bid from Chelsea for the Spain international striker of €60 million (£51.2 million). “Their new coach Antonio Conte, who was also at Juventus, wants to play him alongside Diego Costa and it seems owner Roman Abramovich is willing to satisfy his desire,” the piece added.

Interest from Manchester United is noted, although it’s stated the player would prefer to move to London, with Arsenal also said to be admirers. Here is a look at why he’s said to have caught the attentions of so many elite outfits:

Ochoa noted that Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez would be happy to see Morata stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. So too would many Madridistas.

After all, Morata has made significant improvements as a footballer since his switch to Juventus, having had to battle for a spot in the team, hold it together in big matches and sacrifice himself for the good of the side. He also plays in a position where Madrid only have Karim Benzema to call upon.

Even if he was coming off the bench to join Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, Morata has shown he can make a big impact, per OptaJose:

At 23, the former Bianconeri man will want to show he has what it takes to lead the line at an elite club. Morata has proved that he has the talent and the temperament to do that and, under a manager like Conte, he could shine. He won’t make improvements playing deputy to Benzema.

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Madrid would be delighted to receive a transfer fee around the €75 million (£64 million) mark, too, the sum noted in the initial source. Morata is a superb striker, although it’s debatable whether he’s worth that kind of capital. Either way, a summer sale looks as though it’d be the best course of action for all parties.

Conflicting Paul Pogba Reports

According to Marco Credentino of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Real Madrid will rival Manchester United in pursuit of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

“Real coach Zinedine Zidane is a known admirer of his countryman, and has asked his directors to match United’s offer, with the Spanish giants would have no qualms paying the €15 million (£12.8 million) a season in wages that Pogba would command,” Credentino stated, suggesting that Pogba could cost as much as €120 million (£102.4 million).

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However, according to Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, the European champions are ready to give up in their pursuit of the player.

“Real Madrid have basically said: 'no way we're going to pay that' and they've abandoned the auction,” he noted on BBC Radio 5 live (h/t Samuel Lovett of The Independent). “So I think he's Manchester United-bound. Did he want to go to Old Trafford and play in the Europa League? I don't know, I don't think so.”

Pogba is part of the France squad seeking to secure glory at the UEFA European Championship on home soil, with a final against Portugal to come on Sunday. OptaFranz compared the current Les Bleus star midfielder with the current Real Madrid boss:

When it comes to a marquee capture for Real Madrid, Pogba fits all the criteria. He’s strong, skillful, young and has impressed at a major tournament. Additionally, he’s a marketable asset, and landing him for what would be a world-record transfer fee would be a huge statement of intent on the part of the club.

United may be able to offer a lucrative wage packet to the player and the prospect of returning to his former club would be enticing for the Frenchman. However, there’d be something special about working under his illustrious compatriot and donning the iconic all-white strip at the Bernabeu.