Chelsea news: Mauro Icardi top transfer target to replace Alvaro Morata in January transfer window with AC Milan’s Patrick Cutrone number one back-up option

CHELSEA want Inter’s Mauro Icardi or AC Milan’s Patrick Cutrone to replace Alvaro Morata.

As SunSport revealed earlier, the Blues have finally lost patience with the Spaniard and will try to sign a new striker in January.

Icardi tops their shopping list — but Chelsea have been quoted an eye-watering £90million fee.

Morata has struggled to adjust to English football ever since his £65m move to Stamford Bridge in 2017.

If a deal for Icardi — who has five goals in eight games this season — cannot be reached, Maurizio Sarri is ready to battle Tottenham for highly-rated Milan forward Cutrone.

Chelsea have been desperate to give Morata the time to prove he can be the 20-a-season goalscorer they need - but have now conceded that is unlikely to happen.

And with Sarri’s side now genuine title contenders this season, the Chelsea board want to boost their chances by splashing out on a new forward mid-season.

Cutrone is one of the rising stars of Italian football and would cost around £25million in January despite playing less than 30 games in Serie A.

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The 20 year old has 11 senior goals and plays as a traditional No9. He has played throughout the Italian youth teams and made his senior debut against Argentina in March.

Icardi is the less risky but more expensive option at 25 years old with more than 100 senior goals under his belt.

But the Blues know they need to take the goalscoring burden off Eden Hazard to ensure he remains at the peak of his game, not just in front of goal but also as the creative force in the side.

Morata, 25,  shone at Real Madrid and Juventus but while they still don’t doubt his ability, the Chelsea management are resigned to the fact that he may never produce his best in West London.

The decision Chelsea have to make is whether to go for a short-term fix of a proven goalscorer, or invest in a player who can perform for the future.

The likes of Robert Lewandowski, 30,  Edin Dzeko, 32, and Karim Benzema, 30, have all been targeted in the past, but while their class is not in doubt they are not long-term investments.