Manchester United’s pursuit of Spain international striker Alvaro Morata has taken a turn for the worse, according to The Sun.
The Premier League side, who finished sixth in the English top-flight last term, but qualify for the UEFA Champions League after defeating Ajax in the 2017 UEFA Europa League final last month, have been continually linked with a mega-money summer swoop for the Real Madrid hitman.
The 24-year-old, who has 21 international caps for his country, scored 20 goals and provided six assists in 43 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga and Champions League champions last season.
United boss Mourinho.
Morata, who only returned to the Bernabeu last summer from Serie A giants Juventus, has netted 31 times in just under 100 games for Zinedine Zidane’s side during his two spells at the Spanish capital club, winning eight honours.
The Red Devils’ bid to lure Morata to Old Trafford ahead of the 2017-18 campaign looked promising this summer transfer window, but the report suggests Madrid have all of a sudden increased their valuation of the forward up to £79.5m, which could prove a stumbling block for Jose Mourinho’s men.