Chelsea and Alvaro Morata at least seem to share the same New Year’s Resolution: Move on.
The shrinking violet Spain striker has been relegated out of the squad for Chelsea’s past four fixtures, and this week was mooted with a transfer back to Italy to join AC Milan, with Juventus loanee Gonzalo Higuain - currently at the Rossoneri - moving the other way to Stamford Bridge in what would be a sensational continental carousel.
Morata’s £60million move – then a club record fee - 18months ago from Real Madrid has failed to reap dividends. The 26-year-old has a haul of 22 goals in 69 appearances but has found chances fleeting, especially since Antonio Conte’s departure. He has just seven strikes in 21 sporadic appearances so far this season, with Eden Hazard being moved up front.
For the Blues and new manager Maurizio Sarri however, their attention for Morata’s replacement on the forward-line seems to have turned towards a player who manages to catch the eye during his summer’s World Cup in 2018
23-year-old Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano stole the show in Mexico’s opening World Cup game, stunning the watching world by bagging the goal that garnered the win over defending champions Germany.
Calciomercato (via The Daily Express) report that Lozano is high on Sarri’s wish-list and the West London club would be expected to pay upwards of £27million (€30m) to PSV Eindhoven to bring him to the English capital.
The figure is quoted by Everton director of football, after the Toffees were also reportedly interested in the forward’s services.
This season, Lozano is well amongst the top goal-scorers in the Eredivisie with 11 in 17 appearances, alongside Fran Sol, Abdenasser El Khayati, and teammate Luuk de Jong leading the pack.
In total he has scored 34 goals in 61 games, and is currently contracted at PSV until 2023.
• 41 games
• 21 goals
• 11 assists
Chucky has scored or assisted in 13/17 of PSV's Eredivisie matches this season.
