Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes Alvaro Morata could pursue a fresh challenge away from Chelsea when the transfer window reopens in the summer. The Spain international only joined the Blues in a club-record deal from Real Madrid last year but he has struggled to adapt to the pace of the English game.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson feels Chelsea could consider an approach for a new marksman in the summer with Morata linked with a possible return to Turin next term, he said: “We talk about confidence, and he’s lost his - I cannot see him being there next season.There’s talk today about him going to Juventus, I think that ticks the boxes. I just don’t see him being at Chelsea.

“I just don’t think he suits the Premier League, he’s not that kind of player. By Christmas he had played more minutes than he’s ever played before in a whole season, and that was at Christmas. So, unless they give him another year and hope he gets better, but they’re not going to play him and [have] Giroud up front. For me now Giroud is the main man.”

Morata made an impressive start to his Premier League career with Chelsea and he had found the net on 10 occasions before the turn of the year. However, since then, he has found little success in front of goal and he managed to score just once before the close of the Premier League campaign. During his period, Morata has witnessed winter signing Olivier Giroud jump ahead of him in the pecking order for the centre-forward role and the Frenchman is likely to get the nod to start in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

Giroud made a slow start to proceedings with the west London giants but he has netted four goals in his last seven appearances. His most recent outing came in the final day of the league season against Newcastle United where the Blues suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat.