Morata wants out
Alvaro Morata would return to Italy “in a heartbeat”, amid interest from AC Milan, according to reports.
Labelled a “Chelsea flop” by The Sun, Morata has struggled to adapt to life at Stamford Bridge since his £60m move last year from Real Madrid.
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The Spanish forward is said to have enjoyed his two-year stint with Juventus, from 2014, and to be tempted by the prospect of another spell in Serie A. And with AC Milan reportedly tailing the 26-year-old, that wish could come true.
The bad news for Morata is that he may have to wait until the summer to make his move, because Milan are “unwilling to spend in January due to Financial Fair Play rules”.
As for Chelsea’s willingness to offload the striker, manager Maurizio Sarri has left him out of the squad for the last two Premier League games, instead choosing Eden Hazard to play in a false nine role.
Trincao being tracked
Talking of Juventus, Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport says the Serie A champions have made the first move in the race to land Braga’s teenage attacker Trincao.
Chelsea sent scouts to Portugal earlier in the season to run the rule over the 18-year-old sensation, but Juventus have also been checking out the frontman.
Now, the side have “opened talks with Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes” over the possibility of a move, claims the paper. And the fact that Mendes looks after both Trincao and Cristiano Ronaldo puts Juve in pole position.
Barcelona to raid the Bridge
Over in Spain there are reports that Barcelona are “lining up a January move” for Andreas Christensen.
The centre-back is believed to required at the Camp Nou to plug a defensive gap as the Spanish giants wrestle with an injury crisis that has left them with just two fit centre-backs, one left-back and no right-backs.
TalkSPORT claims that the 22-year-old Dane “has fallen out of favour” under Sarri and would welcome the chance of regular football.
Race for Isco
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports that the Blues “have moved to beat Arsenal and Manchester City” in the race to sign Real Madrid playmaker Isco.
Most of the Spanish press agrees that the 26-year-old is set to leave Madrid next month, after realising he has no future under new manager Santiago Solari.
Arsenal and City were the front runners in the race to land Isco, but the Mail says that Chelsea are “set to make a £70m bid” in the hope that a deal worth £250,000-a-week can be signed, sealed and delivered.
Isco will reportedly be offered a four-and-a-half year contract, and the Spaniard is “ready to make the move” to Stamford Bridge, where Sarri will pair him alongside Eden Hazard.