Newcastle reportedly want to sign Alvaro Morata with doubts emerging over his future this summer – a player Alan Shearer once said he thinks is “excellent” with both feet, and in the air.
Morata, 29, has spent the last two seasons on loan at Juventus from Atletico Madrid. He chose to return to the Old Lady in the summer of 2020, after a previous spell with Juve. He has since scored 32 goals in two seasons.
A decent return, especially considering he has also laid on 21 assists in that time. But Juventus are unwilling to pay the necessary £25million to make his move permanent, and he has a year left on his Atleti contract.
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Previous reports claim that Arsenal are ‘close’ to completing a move worth £25million for Morata. But now, Newcastle have entered the fray. Back in 2017, Shearer was full of praise in quotes published by The Star.
“I know he’s got an injury now but, up until last weekend, he’s had an excellent start,” Shearer said, during Morata’s early days at Chelsea. “He’s looked strong, scored goals both with his head [and feet].
“There hasn’t been that much talk about Chelsea missing Diego Costa. And that will tell you how well Morata’s done. “If he had come in and been poor, the talk would have been about Costa. It’s gone pretty quiet about Costa.”
Newcastle want Morata: Shearer thinks he is ‘excellent’
Would Morata be a good signing? Ultimately, his time at Chelsea did not go to plan. He has been excellent at Juventus over the last two seasons – despite being in the shadow of Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Indeed, 53 goal involvements over the course of two seasons is nothing to be sniffed at. A move to Arsenal would see him start, as would Newcastle. But he has failed in the Premier League before. The Serie A suits him.
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