Alvaro Morata's agent and father in talks at Real Madrid

Emi Martinez is shown TWO yellow cards but little-known rule means he AVOIDS being sent off for winding up Lille fans during penalty shootout… before Villa keeper saves decisive spot-kick
Liverpool failed but gave fans hope that the Jurgen Klopp era can still have a magical ending, writes LEWIS STEELE
West Ham gave everything against a team that appear to be invincible, writes KATHRYN BATTE as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen reach Europa League semis
PLAYER RATINGS: Two Liverpool stars score just 5/10 as Jurgen Klopp's side fail to deliver comeback against Atalanta to crash out of Europa League
Jurgen Klopp insists it's vital Liverpool are 'back to winning ways' amid Premier League title charge despite being knocked out of Europe by Atalanta… and says it's 'insane' that Trent started
The Premier League is poisoning our game and their hand in having FA Cup replays scrapped is another spoonful of arsenic down the throats of the smaller clubs, writes OLIVER HOLT
Arsenal and Man City count the cost of tired legs and weary minds, writes JACK GAUGHAN: Yes, Gunners were naive and Pep's boys wasteful, but fixture jam played a part in Champions League exits
Max Verstappen priced at 1/6 to make it four wins out of five this season at Chinese Grand Prix - with Lewis Hamilton 40/1 to secure his first victory since December 2021
Arsenal identify THREE positions to strengthen in the summer in wake of Champions League exit, with significant funds to be made available for transfers
EFL in UPROAR over decision to scrap FA Cup replays from next season - with surprised clubs branding it a 'DISGRACE' and furious executives claiming they will seek compensation
Ronald Araujo offers blunt response to Ilkay Gundogan's criticism that his red card against PSG fueled Champions League exit... amid toxic Barcelona dressing room split
For a man who has been handed everything, Lewis Hamilton needs to stop feeling sorry for himself
Liverpool lacked the 'belief' required to pull off comeback at Atalanta, says Peter Crouch after his former club crashed out of the Europa League as he insists Reds were 'disappointing'
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso hints that David Moyes calling his bench a 'disgrace' last week sparked bust-up with West Ham dugout in return leg that saw two assistant coaches sent off
Mo Salah's first-half miss proves crucial in Liverpool's Europa League defeat by Atalanta as Peter Crouch insists 'it's not that difficult' and proves the Egyptian is out of form
Emiliano Martinez's ludicrous antics detract from his enormous talent, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE as Aston Villa keeper's shootout heroics book Europa Conference League semi-final
Michail Antonio BLASTS officials in post-match rant following West Ham's Europa League loss to Bayer Leverkusen... as forward insists his side 'remained professional' despite frustrations
Emiliano Martinez claims it was his 'destiny' to be Aston Villa's shootout hero against Lille... as Argentine's antics help Unai Emery's side reach Europa Conference League semi-finals
West Ham assistant Billy McKinlay is SENT OFF after furious touchline row with Bayer Leverkusen staff... sparking a mass brawl among the players in chaotic Europa League clash
Peter Crouch reveals he was 'left SCREAMING for a red card' during Liverpool's crunch clash with Atalanta... after Isak Hien was spared sending off despite handball as last man
Premier League suffer yet ANOTHER critical blow in UEFA coefficient rankings after West Ham and Liverpool Europa League defeats... with hopes of earning an extra Champions League spot all but over
AC Milan players are confronted by the club's ultras after their defeat to Roma in the Europa League... as Stefano Pioli's side are knocked out the competition after 3-1 aggregate loss to rivals
'Is that for prisoners?': Liverpool fans left stunned by Atalanta's away end for crunch Europa League tie... with 1,000 Reds to be situated in the corner of the ground in frightful-looking stand
Haaland and De Bruyne had nothing left in gruelling Real Madrid loss and Rodri is begging for a rest... but who out of NINE players clocking 3,000-plus minutes has played the most? How Man City were run into the ground in quest for double treble

Manchester United are closing in on the signing of striker Alvaro Morata
Morata's agent arrived at Real Madrid's offices for talks on Monday lunchtime
He was accompanied by the player's father Alfonso, according to reports

Published: 07:40 EDT, 3 July 2017 | Updated: 11:06 EDT, 3 July 2017

e-mail

179

View
comments

Alvaro Morata's move to Manchester United appears to be edging closer after the striker's agent and father attended talks with Real Madrid on Monday.

Reports in Spain claim Juanma Lopez and Alfonso Morata turned up at Real's offices at around noon local time for a meeting with club officials in the hope of finding a middle ground over his valuation.

The session lasted just under an hour, according to AS.

Alvaro Morata is closing in on a move to Manchester United from Real Madrid

The Spaniard only scored once against top five sides last season, at Villarreal in February

Morata, valued at around £70million by Madrid, is a top transfer target for United this summer.

However, the Red Devils have yet to agree a price for the 24-year-old, who scored 20 goals in 43 appearances last season.

News of the meeting between Lopez and Real adds to the momentum behind the potential transfer.

Last week, it was claimed that the former Juventus frontman took time out from his honeymoon to fly back to Spain in an effort to accelerate the process.

The United target will be tasked with replacing the goals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic next season

The 24-year-old found regular game time hard to come by and is looking to move away

He is said to want more first-team football despite his love for Real, where he came through the youth-team ranks prior to his move to Juve.

United are short of Madrid's valuation hence the dismissive comment from president Florentino Perez last week when he said: 'I don't think we're in negotiations with Manchester United, which is not to say that there are people around him who are talking, which is normal.

'I have read that we have reached an agreement, I do not know how many million times, but it is not true.'

Madrid expect to sell right-back Danilo to Juventus for £17.5million though Chelsea have also made an enquiry for the Brazilian who can also play on the left.

United have been frustrated in their negotiations over targets so far as they look to add another four players before the season starts.