Arsenal are reportedly ‘strongly interested’ in signing Alvaro Morata as their hunt for a striker goes on but the former Chelsea man has no intention of returning to England where he endured a ‘nightmare’ with Chelsea.

Alvaro Morata is currently in the second year of a two-year loan with Juventus from Atletico Madrid.

The 29-year-old forward, who has scored 11 goals, with seven assists, in 41 appearances this season, has a total of 58 goals (37 assists) in 178 appearances in Turin.

In total across his career, Morata has scored 179 goals, with 72 assists, in 489 games.

To put that into perspective, Alexandre Lacazette, who isn’t seen as deadly enough in front of goal by many, has 200 goals, and 79 assists, in 476 games.

Morata is expected to return to Atletico Madrid this summer, with Juventus opting not to pay €35m, which is what Atletico Madrid paid Chelsea for him in 2020 to make it a permanent deal before loaning him out.

Italian journalist Niccolò Ceccarini said earlier this year: “Juventus are not willing to redeem him for €35m and therefore in all likelihood he will return to Atletico Madrid.

“A new future in the Premier League is possible for him. Arsenal are strongly interested.”

These rumours have persisted since then.

Morata was also linked with a move to Arsenal during the January window, although that was just a loan deal, which would have made sense to help get Arsenal to the summer if their main targets were not available.

But to sign him this summer on a permanent deal?

Thankfully, that all seems to rest on a player who, apparently, has no desire to return to London after a ‘nightmare’ spell at Chelsea that spanned three seasons and saw him score just 24 goals in 72 games.

Personally, I don’t understand how Morata keeps getting clubs to pay big money for him. His move to Chelsea cost £59.4m before Atletico Madrid paid £31.5m for him.

Morata’s total transfer fees paid to date stands at £170m.

At 29, he would also seem to be outside the age profile of players Arsenal are keen to bring in – i.e. 25 and under.

Let’s hope this is just more nonsense because I can’t imagine the fanbase being too happy if Morata ends up being Arsenal’s answer to how to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah.