Spain international Alvaro Morata is reportedly on the cusp of leaving Real Madrid with Manchester United hot on the trail of his signature.

The 24-year-old faced a frustrating spell on his Los Blancos comeback last term as he played second fiddle to Karim Benzema for most of the campaign. Morata was initially tipped to leave the European champions following their decision to activate the buy-back clause while at Juventus, but the player opted to fight for his place in Madrid instead.

Morata followed to endure a tough spell on the substitutes’ bench, and it was not until the final games of the season did he earn a reasonable chance to impress in the starting line-up. Likewise, Morata was left on the bench for the Champions League final in favour of Benzema, but despite his reduced game time, he managed 20 goals over the course of the campaign.

Manchester United decided against offering a new contract to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was still nursing his knee following a successful surgery, and this has pushed them to secure a deal for Morata, who is said to be prefer a reunion with former boss Jose Mourinho. According to The Independent, the Real Madrid star will head to the north-west to have a medical this week ahead of his proposed summer move to Old Trafford.

Real Madrid are currently firm on their £78m valuation for the marksman, but United are still hopeful of reducing the sum to the £70m range following extended talks with the Los Blancos hierarchy over the weekend. The Real Madrid striker was heavily linked with a move to league rivals Chelsea last summer, but it appears that the west London giants are more focused on a deal to re-sign Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.