Arsenal will reportedly walk away from talks with Real Madrid over Alvaro Morata unless they lower their £57m asking price for the striker.
The 23-year-old is currently on holiday after featuring for Spain at Euro 2016, but his club future remains anything but certain at this stage.
Real exercised the buy-back clause in his contract with Juventus last month to secure his return to the Spanish capital, but it has been suggested that it was merely with a view of cashing in and selling him on for a profit.
According to Evening Standard, that very much appears to be the case with their £57m price-tag, one that Arsenal are not willing to meet and will pull out of a deal for Morata unless it’s lowered.
The Spanish forward has made clear throughout the summer that he would prefer to remain in Madrid, but he wants an important starting role next season and seemingly won’t get that at the Bernabeu with Karim Benzema still first-choice striker.
In turn, without the assurances that he will get plenty of opportunities, an exit looks likely and Arsenal have been among the top clubs chasing his signature along with Premier League rivals Chelsea, according to the Standard.
Chelsea are also unwilling to pay £57m for Morata, and so Real will seemingly be forced to lower their expectations if they want to sell him.
Furthermore, it is added in the report that Arsenal will focus their attention on Alexandre Lacazette if a deal for Morata looks unlikely, with Arsene Wenger still desperately searching for a prolific striker to add to his squad.
The French tactician has been heavily criticised for some time now for not bringing in a clinical forward sooner, with both Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott struggling to contribute the regular source of goals needed.
In turn, a move for Morata or Lacazette will be very much welcomed by Gunners supporters, although the former arguably remains the priority as he would certainly offer plenty to Arsenal moving forward.