James McNicholas reports for The Athletic that Arsenal met with Alvaro Morata’s agent during the January transfer window and expressed an interest in the player.
The Gunners were considering a loan deal for Morata, who is currently contracted to AC Milan. Milan were willing to do business, but Galatasaray stole in and won the race for the striker.
Galatasaray were also after a loan move, though they reportedly have an option to buy in Morata’s contract. Perhaps that helped the Turkish club in the race, as they showed a desire to keep the player around for the long term if things go well.
McNicholas reports that the primary distinguishing factor between the two clubs was that Galatasaray were emphatic on doing a deal immediately, whilst Arsenal delayed to consider their options.
Morata obviously wasn’t Arsenal’s first-choice target at centre-forward, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko filling that role, and a bid for Ollie Watkins late in the window.
So, whilst the Gunners were evidently open to a move for the Spanish striker, they wouldn’t have wanted to jeopardise a potential deal for a key target, either now or in the summer. Ultimately, that hesitation meant they ended up with no one.
Morata has scored six goals and assisted two in 26 appearances this season, including his debut from the bench for Galatasaray on Monday.
