AC Milan poised to sign Real Madrid striker in club-record deal

AC Milan are set to shatter their club-transfer record in the search for a big name striker as they close in on a stunning €70m (£61.3m) deal for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.

Morata is determined to leave Madrid this summer after failing to establish himself as a first-team regular at his boyhood club for the second time in his career.

The European champions were in talks with Manchester United for the sale of the Spain international but couldn’t agree a fee with Jose Mourinho’s side before they turned their attentions to Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.

Chelsea were also linked with a move for the 24-year-old but refused to match Madrid’s staggering €90m (£78.8m) valuation and are now targeting Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, paving the way for Milan to land Morata.

The Spaniard’s agent only ruled out a move to Vincenzo Montella’s side at the start of the summer but Morata may not have any other choice but to join the big spenders as his current options are few and far between.

Milan, who have spent nearly £150m on new players, have already confirmed they want to sign one of Andrea Belotti, Aubameyang and Morata but appear to have earmarked the latter as the most likely of those to arrive at the club this summer.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo (25) scored more league goals for Madrid last season than Morata (15), despite the fact the Spain international only started 14 games in La Liga. In fact, only Lionel Messi required fewer minutes per league goal (1 every 76.5 minutes of action) in Spain’s top tier last term than Morata (every 88.7 minutes).

For more stats on Alvaro Morata, click here to visit his WhoScored player page