Chelsea’s hopes of landing a significant transfer blow on Saturday’s opponents Arsenal have been boosted after Álvaro Morata told friends that he expects to move to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Real Madrid striker Morata is the preferred choice of head coach Antonio Conte to replace Diego Costa, who is remains a big-money target for Chinese clubs and Atletico Madrid.

Sources in Spain have even claimed there is an agreement in place to take Costa to China in the summer, following Tijan Quanjian’s bid to sign Chelsea’s top scorer at the start of January, although the 28-year-old reacted angrily with a message on Instagram that read: “They talk too much s***.”

Morata wants to leave Real at the end of the season in search of regular first-team football and the La Liga club are prepared to listen to bids in the region of £50million for the 24-year-old. Chelsea failed with an offer to sign Morata last summer and are lining up a new move as part of Conte’s plans to strengthen his squad, whether or not they win the Premier League title.

Morata has also been a target of Arsenal in the past and is well liked by Arsene Wenger, but it seems the Spaniard fancies joining Chelsea.