Unless it has to do with Chelsea, it’s been an extremely quiet January transfer window. The Blues are reportedly close to sealing yet another deal this month, sending misfit striker Alvaro Morata out on loan to Atletico Madrid. The Spaniard has often spoken out about the struggles he’s had in adjusting to life in London, and his desire to return to native country.
According to multiple sources, he’s nearing completion on a move to the Spanish capital. The Guardian reports an agreement has been made on “an initial loan deal with an option to make the transfer permanent for £48.5m at the end of the season.”
Alvaro Morata’s move to Atletico from Chelsea is nearly complete, according to @FabrizioRomano ?? pic.twitter.com/Ekir3yFNal
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 16, 2019
With the news of Gonzalo Higauin joining Chelsea from Juventus likely to go official in the coming hours, or maybe days, Morata was set to see even less opportunities at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri had decided to move away from either of his two strikers (Morata and Olivier Giroud) as primary scoring options, and instead rely on Eden Hazard in a false nine role.
None of it seems to be working as the Blues have just five goals scored in their last six games.
Alvaro Morata broke the Chelsea transfer fee record when he moved over from Real Madrid in the summer of 2017, and he did get off to a pretty good start with the west London side.
However, eventually his production declined, and with it his playing time and confidence. Overall, his 18 month spell with the club will go down as a major disappointment; much like how his time at Real Madrid is regarded.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.