Morata clears Chelsea medical
London, July 21: Spanish striker Alvaro Morata has passed his Chelsea medical ahead of his move to the Premier League champions from Real Madrid, according to Sky Sports on Friday.
The 24-year-old is now expected to fly to Singapore to link up with his new team-mates, who are preparing to play Arsenal in a friendly in Beijing.
Morata, who is expected to join in a deal worth up to £70 million ($91 million, 78 million euros) with the Blues paying £58 million up front, could make his unofficial debut against Bayern Munich in Singapore next Tuesday.
Morata, who scored 20 goals in 43 appearances for Real last season on their way to the Champions League and Spanish title, is expected to sign a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
“This is the best club,” Morata told Sky at Heathrow airport as he arrived in London on Thursday.
“Antonio Conte is one of the best coaches in the world and I’m so happy to work with Antonio. The Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world and I’m so happy to be here.”
Klopp rules out Coutinho move Hong Kong: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Friday brushed off a reported $93 million offer from Barcelona for Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho, insisting: “We’re not a selling club.” “We want to work together and we want to make the next step, and to do this we need to stay together,” the German told reporters. “The very important message is that we are not a selling club,” added Klopp. Fan favourite Coutinho signed a new five-year contract at Anfield in January that did not include a release clause.
Villa sign Samba London: Veteran Congo international defender Christopher Samba penned a one-year deal with English second-tier side Aston Villa on Thursday after impressing coach Steve Bruce on a trial.
The 33-year-old was a free agent after leaving Greek club Panathinaikos in January and will bring with him a wealth of experience of English football having spent five years at Blackburn Rovers between 2007 and 2012.
France-born Samba has also played for Hertha Berlin in Germany as well as Russian sides Dynamo Moscow and Anzhi Makhachkala.
Leicester reject Roma’s Mahrez bid London: Leicester City boss Craig Shakespeare confirmed on Friday that the club had turned
down an offer from Italian side AS Roma for winger Riyad Mahrez.
The Paris-born Algeria forward is likely to command a fee of around £50 million ($65 million, 55.8 million euros), with Roma’s offer believed to be some way short of that figure.
“The bid was politely declined because it was a low offer,” said Shakespeare. “I don’t know what it was and I don’t get involved.”