Chelsea fail with £51m Alvaro Morata bid

Chelsea have fallen short in their initial approach to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata. The Spaniard returned to the Bernabeu last week after the club triggered the €30m buy-back option placed in his Juventus contract in 2014.

The Blues boss Antonio Conte is on the look out for a new centre-forward despite recruiting Michy Batshuayi from Marseille earlier in the month.

Spanish source Marca claims that the West London giants had tabled a £51m offer for the 23-year-old with Real open to cashing in on their graduate before the close of the transfer window.

However, the sum is still less than the £64m valuation, and the Blues have been asked to up their bid if they are to pursue the player's signature this summer.

London rivals Arsenal are also thought to be in the running to land the highly-rated marksman.

Morata was part of the Spanish side that were ousted by Italy in the round of 16 of the European championships.