Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata is expected to complete his £70m move to Manchester United this week, ending any chance of a move to the Emirates.

• The Morata saga looks to be coming to a close
• The move should mean less competition for other strikers

The Spaniard was linked several times with Arsenal, first as a youngster at Real Madrid, then as a player at Juventus.

There was talk of Morata joining Arsenal on loan while he was Real Madrid, and the links never went away, even after he moved on to Juventus.

Now it seems he’ll be joining Manchester United to replace the released Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to the Express.

While the move would put an end to speculation that Morata could join Arsenal, it would intensify speculation surrounding the futures of other strikers around Europe.

Manchester United, like Arsenal, are in the market for a striker and have been linked with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andrea Belotti and Alexandre Lacazette – all familiar names to Arsenal fans by now.

The signing of Morata, who is believed to cost £70m, could mean one less team competing for these players, increasing Arsenal’s chance, if only a little.