Chelsea are sitting pretty in the race for the title and are nine points clear at the top of the table. Antonio Conte is unarguably the clear favourite to steer the Blues to their sixth Premier League title in his maiden season in charge of them.
However, the shadow left by Leicester City last season, who excelled throughout the season in the domestic season that was devoid of any European engagements loom large over Chelsea. Conte has enjoyed a largely injury-free season to any of its set eleven players, who have been quite unstoppable in the league; but, with Champions League next season the Blues are unlikely to have an intact eleven available for every game. And one look at the bench of Chelsea would give a good indication of their thin depth.
One of the departments that the Blues need immediate attention is their attack. Diego Costa has been nothing less than amazing for Chelsea this season but Conte has hardly any options as a backup for the Spanish international. The Chelsea boss was even desperate to bring in Swansea City forward Fernando Llorente to the club when Chinese clubs were hot on Costa’s heels, but things didn’t materialise on either front.
However, Conte seems to have found a brilliant option in Real Madrid’s budding forward Alvaro Morata. Reportedly, the 24-year-old has already finalised things with the Blues boss about a summer move and a move is positively on the cards. Conte knows the Spaniard quite well from his earlier stint at Juventus, where he had brought the player on loan from Santiago Bernabeu and is very much willing to get his hands on him now.
After struggling to make a good impression at Real under coach Zinedine Zidane despite some eye-catching displays, the striker has now his heart set on a move elsewhere. Even though he has the chance to wait for a first team place considering Benzema’s fading impact due to his age, a move looks likely.
Morata’s finishing is superb, whether it is from a long distance or short and his pace on the ball blended with his dribbling skills make him a suitable player on the wings too. It is not the first time that Chelsea have tried to bring in the player, but any move has failed to materialise. Conte meanwhile, has always made it known that he will make another bid at the end of the current campaign and this time his chances of success look to be much greater.
