Clubs Open Talks With Llorente

Despite the transfer window being closed, there is always transfer gossip doing the rounds in the papers and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest news during the coming months. Today, interest mounts in Fernando Llorente.

Arsenal and Liverpool will face stiff competition for the signature of unsettled Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente, according to talkSPORT.

The 27-year-old’s contract expires in less than 12 months time and he told the club back in July that he has no intention of extending his current deal.

This leaves Athletic vulnerable to losing their star man on a free transfer next summer, with the player allowed to speak with foreign clubs as of this January. Athletic boss Marcelo Bielsa will be disappointed to lose his top marksman but the club could decide to cash in during the January window instead of losing him for nothing just a few months later.

Italian champions Juventus are understood to be close to securing a pre-contract agreement for the Spanish international after opening talks in the summer and offering him a €3.5m-a-year salary, but talkSPORT claim that senior AC Milan officials have also met with Llorente’s agent Carlos Arino in Madrid about the possibility of a move to the San Siro.

This could prompt Arsenal and Liverpool into action with both Arsene Wenger and Brendan Rodgers keen to add to their strike-force after failing to secure their targets this summer, and Llorente is understood to still be under consideration by both men.

Read more Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

The Gunners missed out on Belgian striker Kevin Mirallas to Everton, while the Anfield club saw Tottenham beat them to the signing of Clint Dempsey.

Would you like your club to go for Llorente? Get involved in the comments section.

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