Manchester United set to join transfer race for Spain striker Alvaro Morata

Manchester United are reportedly preparing a bid to sign Juventus striker Alvaro Morata. The Old Trafford club are eager to recruit a new centre-forward this summer, and manager Jose Mourinho is set to move for Morata, who he previously coached at Real Madrid.

Morata, 23, is among the most sought-after strikers in European football and United are prepared to battle it out with Arsenal and Chelsea to secure his signature, according to ESPN.

The Spaniard is thought to be close to rejoining Madrid, who had the option of a £23m ($32.9m) buyback clause inserted into his contract. However, the Champions League winners are said to be open to the idea of selling the striker immediately, knowing that he is likely to attract intense interest from cash-rich Premier League clubs.

United have reportedly expressed a firm interest in the player and Mourinho is a long-time admirer of his talents. What's more, it has been claimed that Morata could come in alongside Sweden's record-breaking centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been strongly linked to United.

The reported United transfer target recently insisted he is relaxed about his future and would be happy to stay at Juventus. "I am very relaxed as I have a contract with Juve and I feel at home there," the Spaniard said ahead of the start of Euro 2016. "I am a Juve player still, until someone says different. The tournament is important for me, but all my teammates too. It is a dream to be here."