Transfer Centre

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata 'closing in on Sevilla move'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 06 January 2019

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata is reportedly closing in on a move to Sevilla, which could hamper the Blues' hopes of signing Gonzalo Higuain from AC Milan.

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata is reportedly close to agreeing a deal which would see him return to Spain with Sevilla.

Morata's future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain having fallen down the pecking order under Maurizio Sarri, who has preferred Olivier Giroud and Eden Hazard to lead the line at times this season.

The 26-year-old has scored just 24 times in 72 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions, and the Blues have been heavily linked with a move for a new striker having been unimpressed with the Spaniard's form since his arrival.

Tuttosport reports that Morata is nearing a switch to Sevilla, despite scoring twice for the Londoners during Saturday's FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest.

However, the report also claims that any deal with Sevilla would hamper Chelsea's chances of landing Gonzalo Higuain, who is currently on loan at AC Milan from Juventus.

A swap deal between Milan and Chelsea which would take Morata to San Siro and Higuain in the opposite direction had been mooted, with Milan understood to be looking for a way out of their option to buy the Argentine at the end of the season.

However, the Blues would lose their bargaining chip in any deal should Morata join Sevilla instead this month.