Chelsea are considering keeping club-record buy Alvaro Morata this season as it emerges they have yet to even lodge a bid for Gonzalo Higuain.

Morata joined Chelsea from Real Madrid for £58m last July, but struggled to adapt to the Premier League and living in London. It is believed he wants a return to Serie A, where he spent two reasons at Juventus between 2014-16.

However, Juventus, who made an inquiry for the Spain forward earlier this summer, no longer need him after signing Cristiano Ronaldo.

AC Milan are interested but are struggling to afford the £58m fee Chelsea want, plus his wages. The same goes for Higuain, who is available from Juventus and is understood to prefer a switch to the San Siro rather than Stamford Bridge.

AC Milan got in touch with Higuain’s brother and agent Nicolas this week but are loath to pay his £130,000-a-week wages, while Juventus want £54m for the 30-year-old.

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia met Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici in Italy yesterday, but it was believed the discussion was focused on finalising the £44.2m transfer of defender Daniele Rugani, rather than on Higuain.

Higuain is a player new Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri would like in his squad, but the hierarchy are reluctant to spend so much on an ageing forward.

Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta said: “Milan or Chelsea? No official offers have arrived. I feel that the arrival of Ronaldo has created an attack of good quality but also of quantity. We will evaluate Higuain’s future with those affected. He’s an important player for us but we’re talking to him and trying to decide what’s the best solution for everyone.”

AC Milan failed to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Rule last season, but had a ban from European competition overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week. Still, they are aware that they will have to sell one of their prize assets, such as goalkeeper and Chelsea target Gianluigi Donnarumma, to afford Morata or Higuain.

AC Milan’s new general manager Leonardo yesterday appeared to rule out the possibility of either player joining. He said: “Higuain or Morata? I don’t think it will be possible to make big signings in this transfer window. Huge wages are going to affect us, so it will be more difficult to get these big names.”

There have suggestions in Italy that former Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina, who played under Sarri at Napoli, could move to Chelsea just days after completing a free transfer to AC Milan. But Leonardo added: “There are still no offers for Donnarumma or Reina.”

It has been reported in Italy that Granovskaia and Paratici will meet again in Nice tomorrow, where Chelsea are playing Inter Milan.

Meanwhile, sources in Brazil are suggesting Chelsea are going to win the race to sign 25-year-old winger Bernard.The Brazilian is out of contract having refused to sign a new deal at Shakhtar Donetsk and is available on a free.

La Liga club Valencia have made an inquiry about taking Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi on loan.