Chelsea planning to hijack Arsenal's striker deal - report

Chelsea have reportedly opened talks to land Alvaro Morata from Juventus and are said to be looking to land the Spaniard while Arsenal are pensive in negotiations with Leicester City’s star, Jamie Vardy.

As per TheGuardian, the Blues are to step up their attempts to sign Álvaro Morata from Juventus and hope to make progress this week before the start of the European Championship.

The 23-year-old, has capped nine times by Spain, is a long-standing target for Antonio Conte after initially being lined up to join him at Juventus in the summer of 2014, only for the manager to take up the reins of Italy’s national team.

He afterward moved to the Turin club from Real Madrid regardless, on a five-year contract, and the Blues new manager has asked his new employers to secure the 23-year-old’s services as he seeks to bolster Chelsea’s attacking ranks.

According to the Mirror's, inbound Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is a "long-time fan" of the forward. Matt Law from the Telegraph's went so far as to report Chelsea are in talks to sign Morata:

Chelsea open talks over Alvaro Morata deal #cfc https://t.co/21CxsC5WUW

— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) June 6, 2016

Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Morata, but it seems Gunners manager, Arsene Wenger is onto the target he desires after recently the north Londoners triggered Vardy's £20 million release clause.

However, David Amoyal an Italian Journalist translator for Gianluca Di Marzio, believes the Bianconeri star is about more than goals alone as the former Los Blancos youngster scored just 12 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions last season.

@chelsboytweets @AllThingsCfc1 players like Morata can't be measured in goals alone, and Serie A much harder to score in than other leagues

— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) June 6, 2016

As quoted by Malyon, the 23-year-old Spaniard will be a slightly more expensive investment, probably due to the fact the Real are widely known to be planning to exercise their £24 million buyback clause for the player before auctioning him for a profit.

Morata helped guide the Turin’s to a fifth successive Serie A title last season before dazzling in Spain's Euro 2016 preparations and making the front page of Spanish newspaper AS following Spain friendly win over South Korea.

Nolito and Morata fuel Spain's #EURO2016 dream.
Today's front cover of AS reflecting on the 6-1 win over S.Korea pic.twitter.com/RmdJesVoJ5

— AS English (@English_AS) June 2, 2016

The Blues new manager, Conte, is a big fan of his pace, energy and work-rate, and is understood to believe the 23-year-old forward could play through the middle on his own or as part of a front two.

Chelsea had feared they would face strong competition for Morata from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United.

According to Malyon, Zinedine Zidane, the Real boss has no plans to keep the Spanish international at the Santiago Bernabeu, and instead would consider selling him to the biggest bidders after re-signing the player from the Italian side.

BBC Sport's David Ornstein also made sure to note Arsenal's move for Vardy is far from complete after the Foxes are believed to have launched a counteroffer in a bid to convince their star forward to stay:

No decision yet from Jamie Vardy on joining Arsenal or accepting Leicetser's counter offer. He is still expected to decide today #AFC #LCFC

— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) June 6, 2016

Vardy is preparing to travel with England to Euro 2016, and should his move to north London fall apart; Morata may yet arise as a Gunners alternative.

Chelsea are apparently scorching in advance on the hunt to recruit Morata, with the new boss expecting to get a chance to work together with a player he just missed out on linking up following his sudden exit from Juve in the summer of 2014.

Morata would like greater clarity over his future before the start of Euro 2016 and by himself he has expressed keen interest in moving to the Premier League and.

He said, “Hopefully everything will be resolved before then, because it is uncomfortable to be helping your country with phone in hand."

“My wish is to succeed in Madrid, but Madrid have great players and what I want is to play and feel important.

“There are some offers from England that are tempting, not only because of the contract. I think my characteristics mean the Premier League would be a great destination.”

“With what I have learned in Italy, if I have the chance to learn something more in England I think it would make me a more complete player. I am 23 years old and I want to progress, to play and learn from the best.” The Spaniard added.