Rumour: Real Madrid want Arsenal to pay £25 million for Alvaro Morata

Arsenal have been told that they must stump up £25 million if they are to sign Alvaro Morata in the summer, according to the Express.

The Gunners have been chasing the Real Madrid striker since January after they failed to in a loan bid to take the young Spaniard for the remainder of the season and were rumoured to be hoping to land him on a permanent basis at the end of the season, with personal terms reportedly already agreed with Morata.

But the Spanish giants have told them to pay big if they want to but their young starlet, with a £25m fee placed upon his head as per their valuation.

It is believed that Real Madrid would waive the buy-back clause that had wanted inserted in any move for such a price, but such a valuation could put off Arsenal, with the forward not yet a proven regular in top flight football.

The forward himself has spoken of how he would prefer to prove himself at Real Madrid, but has accepted that he may need to prove on to progress his career, having already fallen behind the rapidly-emerging Jese Rodriguez in the pecking order, while president Florentino Perez is reportedly set to sanction a big-money move for a world-class striker in the summer.

Inter Milan have also spoken to the player about a proposed move as they continue their summer rebuild, while Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are also believed to be keen on the Spanish under-21 forward.