Chelsea are launching a £70million bid to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, according to Metro.
Recent reports have claimed that Manchester United will officially announce the signing of the Spaniard on Tuesday or Wednesday.
But it now seems that Blues manager Antonio Conte has asked his club to make a shock move to hijack the striker's move to Old Trafford.
Morata is expected to leave the Santiago Bernabeu to embark on a new experience in England.
And former Real Madrid assistant Aitor Karanka declared earlier this week that the 24-year-old has enough quality to succeed in the English Premier League.
"We knew [about his talent] since he was with us at the age of 19," Karanka is quoted as saying by ESPN.
"I have known him since he was 17 because he came to the Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria [with a Spain team Karanka coached].
"Alvaro is the classic player that can fit anywhere. He has everything. For this [Premier League] football, he is a spectacular player.
"The time he spent at Juventus was great for him to mature."
