Chelsea to do battle with Manchester United for Alvaro Morata in last-ditch attempt to prise striker away from Real Madrid

CHELSEA are plotting to hijack Manchester United’s move for Real Madrid ace Alvaro Morata, according to reports.

The Spaniard has become frustrated with his lack of game time at the Bernabeu under boss Zinedine Zidane.

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And according to the Mirror, the Blues are ready to take on their Premier League rivals for Morata’s signature.

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Chelsea are expecting to lose Diego Costa after boss Antonio Conte texted the striker to tell him he is no longer in his plans.

But Atletico are hoping to convince the Blues to keep Costa until January as they wait for their Fifa-sanctioned transfer embargo to end.

The Spanish giants will also ask the Blues to keep Costa out of their Champions League squad so he is not cup-tied.

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And Costa's departure will mean the Premier League champions are on the hunt for another striker.

Conte is a huge fan of Morata and is eager to sanction a £65million move for the former Juventus star.

The former Italy manager knows Blues technical director Michael Emenalo wants to bring Everton hitman Romelu Lukaku, 23, back to the club as further proof that ex-boss Jose Mourinho’s instincts were wrong when he sold the Belgian striker in 2014.

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Conte has been boosted by suggestions from Spain that Morata is tired of playing second fiddle to Karim Benzema in big games, despite scoring 22 goals this term.

Morata is also seen as the cheaper option with Lukaku potentially costing around £100million from Everton.