Manchester United 'would have to pay at least £50.7m for Alvaro Morata'

Manchester United would reportedly have to pay at least €60m (£50.7m) to sign Alvaro Morata from Atletico Madrid in the latter stages of the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils are working to sign a new forward before the deadline and have recently been credited with an interest in Morata, who is back at Atletico following a loan spell at Juventus.

The 29-year-old starred on the opening weekend of the 2022-23 La Liga campaign, scoring twice in Atletico's 3-0 victory at Getafe.

Morata has spent each of the last two seasons on loan at Juventus, netting 20 times in 44 appearances for the Old Lady in 2020-21, while he scored 12 goals in 48 outings in all competitions for the Italian giants last term.

The Spain international has previously played in the Premier League for Chelsea, meanwhile, having made the move to Stamford Bridge from Real Madrid in 2017.

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Morata found it difficult to make his mark with the Blues, only managing 24 goals in 72 appearances in all competitions, moving to Atletico on loan in 2019 before joining the club on a permanent basis in 2020.

The Spaniard started his professional career at Real Madrid, winning two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey crowns and two Champions League trophies in two separate spells with Los Blancos.

Morata also helped Juventus win two Serie A titles and three Coppa Italia crowns, while he lifted the FA Cup and Europa League during his time at Chelsea.

According to AS, Man United are pushing to sign the centre-forward before the end of the transfer window, but Atletico have raised his asking price following his impressive pre-season and brace last time out.

The report claims that Erik ten Hag's side would have to pay at least €60m (£50.7m) to sign the Spaniard, which is double what he would have been at the start of the window.

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Morata, who has a contract at Wanda Metropolitano until June 2024, has an impressive scoring record for his country, finding the back of the net on 26 occasions in 56 appearances.

Man United have also been linked with Atletico duo Joao Felix and Matheus Cunha, with the Red Devils believed to have had a £110m bid rejected for the former.

Cristiano Ronaldo remains at Old Trafford, but the Portugal international could be allowed to leave before the end of the window, with Sporting Lisbon potentially bringing him back to the club.

Anthony Martial had been in line to start the campaign as the team's number one forward following his impressive pre-season, but the Frenchman has missed out against Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford in the early stages of the campaign due to a hamstring problem.