Real Madrid to buy-back Morata...then sell him to Arsenal

Real Madrid have hatched a plan to manage the situation regarding Álvaro Morata to their advantage. But this is not what their fans were hoping for. After some outstanding performances for Juventus, most recently on the Champions League stage in the Allianz Arena against Bayern Munich, a survey undertaken by AS.com suggested that two out of three Madrid supporters wanted him to "come home". However, although the plan to bring him back is real, this is only to then sell him on at a profit to the highest bidder...and there are a few big clubs sniffing about.

In the Premier League - which is about to reward its clubs with a massive TV deal come the summer - Arsenal, more than the rest, have shown an interest in the striker. The German champions, and champions elect, who almost dropped out of Europe's top competition with Morata as protagonist, are also keen admirers with soon to be new manager, Carlo Ancelotti, someone who has worked with him first-hand in recent years, looking to strengthen Bayern.

For his part, the player, who has scored ten in 40 games, has never hidden his desire to be a success in the white shirt of the ten time European champions. But he has no desire to return to become a bit-part player now that he's become accustomed to minutes on the pitch with the Italian side. Both they and Madrid are trying to find a solution for the summer but his former employees, who had a buy-back option written into his five-year contract with Juve, have practically decided.

Morata was sold for 20 million euros leaving the way clear for Benzema to be the number one striker. But in this agreement the option to buy him back was open with specific dates, 1-15 July in either 2016 or 2017. This option will be exercised this summer. In terms of the finances of the buy-back, this was to be determined based on number of games played and could vary between 20-30 million euros. As the striker has been involved in more than 50% of the season's official matches (22 of the 40), Madrid will have to fork out the maximum. The intention therefore is to sell him on for around 50 million making a tidy profit.

At Juventus they are already considering life without the Spaniard supporting their front line and their director general, Beppe Marotta, spoke to RAI explaining that although Madrid have the right to purchase the player he hoped that they wouldn't do it just to make a profit. In the meantime, the staff in Turin are already casting alternatives with Alexis Sánchez being linked as their number one target. Come May, the pieces to this grand jigsaw are likely to start to be moved.