Arsenal: Real Madrid Key To Transfer Plans

Arsenal are clearly in the market for a striker, and are in the race to sign Alvaro Morata. Real Madrid, however, could scupper Arsene Wenger’s transfer plans this Summer.

Many have called for Arsenal to invest in their striking options since the departure of Robin Van Persie to Manchester United. Other than an utterly ridiculous and highly audacious £40 million and £1 bid for Luis Suarez before he departed for Barcelona, Wenger has been very loyal to current striker Olivier Giroud.

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However, this Summer perhaps more than any, there are frequent and significant rumors linking Arsenal to a host of strikers around Europe. Some of these include Napoli’s goal scorer Gonzalo Higuain, Everton’s big Belgian Romelu Lukaku and Leicester front man Jamie Vardy. While all of these moves are quite plausible, there is one name that has been linked with a move to the Emirates more than any other.

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That name is Juventus striker Alvaro Morata. Morata has been consistently linked with the Gunners over the past year and Arsenal are now one of the favorites to land the Spaniard’s signature. However, one issue in a possible deal is the presence of his former club, Real Madrid. as Morata himself has referred to:

"“I hope that my future can be resolved as quickly as possible… to know if I’m staying or if I’m going. Wherever they want me most, that’s where I’ll be.”"

The spanner in the works is a buy back clause that Real Madrid enforced when they first sold the 23 year old to Juventus. The clause is set at £24 million and Real Madrid have verbally stated that they intend to exercise such a buy back clause, thereby negating any chance that Arsenal or any other club would have to sign Morata.

The situation, therefore, is waiting for Real Madrid to act upon such verbal intentions. Everyone else is playing a waiting game, including Arsenal. Wenger’s interest in bringing in someone like Morata clearly shows an intent to bring in a striker to at least compete with Giroud for the starting role.

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However, without knowing whether Morata may or may not be available, means that any other inquiry made about another striker is on hold, if indeed, Morata is Wenger’s first choice, which it would seem to be from recent reports. Arsenal are consequently in a state of limbo, waiting on Real Madrid, a club who could now have a major say on how Wenger chooses to navigate this crucial Summer transfer window