Italian sides Juventus and Inter Milan have joined the race to sign Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata, according to reports.
The young striker has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal this month, on loan until the end of the season. But reports in Italy say the two European giants may be willing to offer Morata a permanent deal and pay Los Blancos around 15 million euros for his services.
Arsenal boss Arsenal Wenger played down suggestions he would make a move for Spain Under-21 star Morata in a press conference last week. But despite doing so, it is know the Gunners are on the look out for a forward. The Premier League leaders lost Theo Walcott to injury for the rest of the seaon, and in Olivier Giroud, only have one recognised fit striker at the club.
For their part, Real have said the player is not going anywhere in the January window, with boss Carlo Ancelotti saying Morata is key to his plans as Los Blancos look to secure the La Liga title for the first time in three years, and win the Decima Champions League.
Although Morata is believed to be happy at the club, he hinted last week that he would be willing to leave to get first team football.
He said: “Real Madrid have been my team since I was little and will be all my life, but I think the important thing is to have a relevant role in the team. If I ever feel that’s not the case, I would look at other options. In football, it’s very difficult to stay at the top and even more so in a team like Real.”
