Chelsea prepare fresh Gonzalo Higuain transfer bid in deal which could seal Alvaro Morata exit

Chelsea target: Gonzalo Higuain
EPA
Simon Johnson21 December 2018

Maurizio Sarri wants Chelsea to make another attempt to sign striker Gonzalo Higuain next month.

Chelsea are looking to strengthen the frontline with Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud scoring just 12 goals between them in all competitions.

Sarri asked Chelsea to buy Higuain, who played under him at Napoli, in the summer when Juventus made it clear he was surplus to requirements.

But the hierarchy were unwilling to spend vast sums on a player who turned 31 this month.

He ended up joining AC Milan on a season-long loan with a £16million fee for the deal. The Serie A club can make it a permanent switch in the summer for another £32m.

However, they are unlikely to trigger that option as they face a one-year ban from Uefa competitions having struggled to comply with Financial Fair Play rules. It means AC Milan could cut Higuain’s loan short, leaving the Argentina international available when the window reopens in January.

It has been reported in Italy that Chelsea could offer Morata, who has failed to impress since joining from Real Madrid, to Juventus to make the transfer happen.

Morata enjoyed a two-year spell at Juventus between 2014-16 before rejoining boyhood club Real.

Given Chelsea spent £58m on the 26-year-old just 18 months ago, it would be surprising if the board used him just to get an older replacement.

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But Sarri has regularly hinted at his dissatisfaction with the Spain international, labelling him “mentally fragile”.

Chelsea assistant manager Gianfranco Zola confirmed this week that the Blues are keen on Bournemouth frontman Callum Wilson.

The 26-year-old is valued at £50m, which also represents a major gamble given he has suffered two serious knee injuries.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe also claims the England international is not for sale.

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