MORATA SET TO LEAVE

Recent happenings at the Bernabeu suggest that Chelsea could wrap up the deal for Alvaro Morata soon. Representatives of the Spaniard Alfonso Morata and Juanma Lopez were pictured at the club’s office on Monday as further negotiations for the player’s exit continued.

The 24-year old is set to leave the club after just a season following Madrid’s activation of a buy back clause in the player’s contract with Juventus. Reports claim the meeting happened at lunchtime on Monday and lasted for an hour.

The player has agreed personal terms with the London club but the transfer fee is the niggling limitation to the deal completion. Los Blancos want €80 million but Antonio Conte is more inclined to pay in the €60 million range or less. His goal return of 20 in 43 games last season is impressive.

Morata started just 19 games as Coach Zinedine Zidane preferred Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo upfront. Morata, who wants more regular football ahead of the World Cup next year, is comfortable with the idea of moving. He cut his honeymoon celebration short to fly back to Madrid so a deal could be completed.

The latest odds on a move to Stamford Bridge can be seen at https://sport.netbet.co.uk/live-betting/, with all indications suggesting the deal will be wrapped up soon, though Chelsea were also linked with a move for James Rodriguez but that deal has cooled down, and officially ended yesterday when he ws unveiled at Bayern.

Also on his way out is Portuguese international Pepe, with Turkish giant Besiktas set to complete the move for the defensive veteran. He'll join the Turkish Super Lig club on a free transfer after he was released at the end of the last season.

While the club is deemed to have agreed personal terms with the Euro 2016 champ, they are yet to formally make the announcement. Pepe was reported to have numerous admirers that would have handed one to two year contract to the 34 year old - Paris St Germain were one of the leading sides linked with the player, aside others in Portugal and Spain.

His 10-year stay with Los Blancos would be helpful to any ambitious side even though he has aged. Pepe is a three time Champions League winner, as well as three La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey title. Due to injuries and his mature football age, he dropped in the pecking order of Coach Zinedine Zidane, but he still has a lot to offer (even at his age) and he played a crucial role as Portugal cruised to the title at the continental tournament last year in France.

Recently, the scoring central defender helped his country defeat Mexico 2-1 at the third place match of the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. The team had lost the penalty shoot out to Chile in the semifinals but should be happy at the third place finish.

Reports claim Besiktas offered Pepe a three year deal though the terms were kept under wraps. He is expected to earn €3.25 million in annual wages and bonuses. The former Porto star has done well for himself all through the years; surely he would be remembered for a lot of things, good and bad.