Manchester United seem to be taking transfer cues from Chelsea, adding Alvaro Morata to their list of potential strikers. The Blues should resist a bid war for the Real Madrid centre-forward.
Chelsea and Manchester United may find themselves in a bidding war over their next striker this summer. With Antoine Griezmann committing to stay at Atletico Madrid in light of their transfer ban (a class move, by the way), United are moving on to Chelsea’s top two options: Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata.
United are so desperate for a striker that they would sell David de Gea to Real Madrid for Alvaro Morata and £22 million, according to SkySports. De Gea is a perennial transfer target for Real Madrid, with United showing varying degrees of enthusiasm about retaining him. Thibaut Courtois briefly took de Gea’s spot, but in the second half of the season Keylor Navas quelled many doubts about his own future with the La Liga and Champions League winners.
Must Read: Atletico Madrid's transfer ban complicated Chelsea's transfer picture
Alvaro Morata makes more sense for Manchester United than Romelu Lukaku for one main reason: Jose Mourinho. Lukaku’s desire to return to Chelsea is in no small part due to his unfinished business with the ex-manager who cast him out. Lukaku is much more established as a Premier League striker now than he was at Chelsea.
But such considerations have little place in Mourinho’s personality- and pique-driven squad selections and lineup choices. Lukaku could be United’s starting striker almost by default, but that is no guarantee of warm relations or a long-term future at Old Trafford.
Unfortunately, Morata is also a better fit for Chelsea than Lukaku. If United decide that Morata is their primary target they will make a massive offer to secure Morata and intimidate Chelsea from making a counter-offer. United have no qualms about over-paying for players. If the Red Devils go that route, Chelsea should resist the temptation to enter a bid war.
Chelsea slightly over-performed based on wage bill this season, but United thoroughly underperformed. Manchester will likely over-compensate for their 2016/17 season by spending even more money. Chelsea need reinforcements in key areas, but none so desperately that they should go along with an exercise in frivolity.
Chelsea should not concede Morata cheaply, but must handle their business smartly. Excess money spent in a bid war could make the difference between signing new midfielders and depth at wing-back.
Next: Corentin Tolisso takes Tiemoue Bakayoko's place in Chelsea transfer rumours
The Blues have conducted some of the best transfers of the past decade. They should not surrender their reputation over a single player and the goading of a rival. For all the talk of Chelsea buying their titles, Manchester United have spent much more on transfers. That is one area where Chelsea should feel little need to make up ground.