According to Sky Sports, Chelsea have told AC Milan that they can have Alvaro Morata if they meet the asking price of £62 million.

If this deal goes through then it would mean Morata departing Stamford Bridge having served only one season for the Blues.

After Morata joined Chelsea last summer from Real Madrid, his career in England got off to a flying start. A goal on his Premier League debut was followed by a further 9 strikes before the turn of the year. 

In 2018 though, the Spaniard’s form deserted him and he only found the back of the net once more in the league before the end of the season. The January arrival of Olivier Giroud eventually forced the 25-year-old out of the starting line up, which ultimately resulted in Morata missing out on Spain’s World Cup squad.

If AC Milan meet Chelsea’s asking price then it will result in a small profit for the Blues, considering they paid £59 million for the striker last summer. They shouldn’t be so quick to give up on their investment though, and Morata should remain to lead the line this season at Stamford Bridge.

The Breakdown

Despite previous spells with Real Madrid and Juventus, last season was the first in Morata’s career in which he was burdened with the sole responsibility of leading the line over the course of the entire campaign. Having either had a striker partner, or been a rotation option, at his previous clubs, it was always going to be a big ask for him to step up without any trouble.

Morata played over 2,000 league minutes for the first time in his career last season. That fact, combined with the additional fatigue that comes with being a lone striker, and not having a winter break for the first time, is the reason his form dropped off so dramatically in the second half of the last campaign. He was exhausted.

With that first season now behind him though, Morata will be more prepared for the rigours to come second time around. 

At the start of last season, Morata showed his quality. Now, Chelsea should give him the chance to prove he can keep it up.

With Giroud, Michy Batshuayi and Tammy Abraham on the books, the Blues have goals in their squad, and enough security in their back up options to be able to afford to maintain their faith in Morata.