Arsenal and Juventus Hit Back at Real Madrid Demands for Alvaro Morata

Arsenal and Juventus have insisted they will not accept Real Madrid's demand of a buyback clause in any deal for Alvaro Morata this summer, reports in Spain claim.

The Spanish striker is one of a number of names intensely linked with a move to the Gunners who were boosted in their attempts to strike a deal this week when the Spanish giants insisted the 21-year-old will not be moving to the Serie A champions.

Having played such a peripheral role at the Bernabeu last season where only young midfielder Casemiro and third choice goalkeeper Jesus Fernandez featured in the first team less than him, Morata is keen to secure greater opportunities away from the Spanish capital.

However, Spanish newspaper AS reports the striker's immediate future remains in doubt as his suitors refuse to give in to Real Madrid's demands, specifically the inclusion of a buyback clause which would allow the club to bring the player back for a moderate fee should he be a success.

A similar deal saw Real sell full back Daniel Carvajal to Bayer Leverkusen in 2012, but after his breakthrough campaign in the Bundesliga the club exercised their option to bring him back to the club for a fee marginally bigger than the one he left for.

Carvajal would go on enjoy a successful role in Carlo Ancelotti's first team as they claimed a 10<sup>th Champions League crown last season, but their attempts to install a similar arrangement with Morata appears to have been thwarted.

The striker is thought to be available for a fee in the region of £15m and after reports of an agreement with Juventus were quashed, Wenger's side remain in the frame to secure his signature.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez told Cadena Ser on Wednesday: "I am friends with the Juventus executives and president Andrea Agnelli. But I have not spoken to them regarding Morata, and, honestly, the possibilities that he goes to Turin are zero.

"I will meet the player and we will try to find the best solution for him and for the club."