Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has refused to rule out an exit for Alvaro Morata this summer, with Chelsea and Arsenal both linked.
The striker returned to the Spanish capital from Juventus in the current window, after Real triggered his buy-back clause, which was included in his sale two years back.
It was previously believed that he would be sold on for a profit after leaving Juve, but no potential suitors are claimed to have offered the fee needed to persuade the Galacticos to sell.
Zidane has now moved to insist he is happy to have Morata with his playing squad, but could not refuse to rule out a possible exit during the window however.
“He [Morata] is another member of this team. He’s back and I’m happy to have him,” said Zidane.
“He is an academy product, who knows what Real Madrid is and truthfully we are, and me above all, happy to have him with us. Later we’ll see…
“We have a large squad and all the players will be important. Alvaro will be one more of the team.”
The Spain international is unlikely to displace Karim Benzema as the club’s first choice striker, after the Frenchman netted a personal record of 24 league goals in the previous campaign.
Morata is unlikely to be happy to play only a limited amount of football this season, and could still end up pushing for a move should he not be guaranteed regular action.
Our bid to bring in a striker this summer has so far stuttered, and if Arsene Wenger can not find a better value-for-money option, maybe he could still end up raising his offer for Morata, with £57 Million believed to be needed to tempt the Spanish giants into selling.
Are we confident that we will find the striker needed before the season kicks off next month?