Manchester United have pursued Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata all summer long and, despite a protracted delay, the Spanish striker is likely to be one of Jose Mourinho's next acquisitions. Last season's Europa League winners have been linked with a stack of centre forwards over the past few summers as they tried to replace first Robin van Persie and then fading Wayne Rooney. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was recruited on a free transfer last summer as a sticking plaster, but given Swede's age that was only ever a short-term solution. His cruciate knee ligament injury and subsequent departure from Old Trafford only hasten the need for a top-line marksman to fire them into title contention.

Can Morata be that player and what do we already know about him?

His career so far

Morata's formative years in senior football have been spent in the rarefied atmosphere of the Santiago Bernabéu, bookmarked by a two year stay at Juventus before he was bought back. The 24-year-old's name features regularly among the blogs and Twitter feed's of football's chattering classes and from almost the very start Morata has carried a reputation as one of Europe's best youngsters.

As a result of the clubs he has played for however, he is yet have a goalscoring campaign that befits a forward who could move for £75 million. His best league tally was last season when he scored 15 La Liga goals for Real in 26 appearances (though only 14 of them were starts). Even in Turin, where he was adored by Juve fans, Morata scored 15 league goals in two seasons. When you account for the fact he divided his time between the starting XI and the bench however (he made a combined 27 league starts in Italy), the basic numbers look more favourable. Moreover, attackers often do not hit the high numbers for goals and assists until they pass 23, so United would be getting Morata at the perfect age.