Costa on his way out as Morata jets in

– Chelsea’s £76 million new boy Alvaro Morata hailed the English champions as “the best club” and manager Antonio Conte as “one of the world’s best coaches” as the striker arrived in London to complete his transfer this week.

The 24-year-old is expected to sign a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge after the deal was agreed with Real Madrid.

“This is the best club,” Morata said at Heathrow airport as he arrived to undergo a medical.

London

“Antonio Conte is one of the best coaches in the world and I’m so happy to work with him. The Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world and I’m so happy to be here.”

Real Madrid exercised a buyback clause to bring Morata back from Juventus a year ago, having joined the Italian club in 2014 just days after Conte’s exit in Turin.

He scored 20 goals in 43 appearances last season as Real retained their Champions League crown while edging Barcelona to the Spanish title.

Morata had previously been linked with a move to Manchester United, but their interest ended after Romelu Lukaku’s arrival.

Morata’s arrival could signal the end of his international teammate Diego Costa’s time at Chelsea, with the latter strongly tipped for a return to Atletico Madrid.

Costa, 28, was granted extra time off and has missed the start of pre-season training after he revealed in June that he was not part of Conte’s plans. –