CHELSEA are closing in on the signing of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, according to claims in Italy.
Morata was thought to be heading to AC Milan but now Gianluca Di Marzio reports that talks have opened with Chelsea and a deal is close.
Morata is keen to leave Real Madrid after struggling to start games under Zinedine Zidane.
And Chelsea are desperate for a top striker with Diego Costa set to leave.
Real Madrid are hoping to bank around £70m for Morata to help fund a world record move for Kylian Mbappe.
That figure put Manchester United off earlier this summer and Chelsea had been baulking at the price.
But now they look to have come an agreement and hope to complete a deal for the Spain striker.
Di Marzio claims a deal is close with negotiations in progress.
Chelsea are desperate for a new striker having flown out to China with just Loic Remy and Michy Batshuayi with Costa set to leave after being told he has no future at the club.
They had hoped to sign Romelu Lukaku before being beaten by Manchester United to the Belgium striker.
Morata was expected to head to United before the move collapsed over Real’s demands and United moving for Lukaku.
He is now with Madrid in America on their pre-season tour and faces Manchester United on July 23 unless a move is sealed by then.
Conte signed a new deal at Stamford Bridge yesterday to commit his future to the club in a sign that he is getting his way in the transfer market.
He had grown frustrated before moves for Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger were sealed.
And Morata would please the Italian further and add to their fire-power up top as they look to defend the Premier League title and challenge in Europe.
Chelsea are also in the hunt for new wing-backs with Danilo and Alex Sandro on Conte’s radar.
Their other striker options include Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andrea Belotti and Sergio Aguero although Morata is the priority.
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