Arsenal are looking set to miss out on fantastic Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente with the striker edging towards a move to Serie A side Juventus.
numerous rumours last month were linking Arsenal with a very highly possible move for the Spaniard who is currently out of contract at the end of the season although reports from Spain suggested he would more likely be on his way to Barcelona. However, Llorente has reportedly a bust-up with Athletic boss Marcelo Bielsa during training yesterday and stormed out of the training ground in a move which underlies the tension that exists between the two men. However, it is being reported today that Llorente has returned to train with the rest of the squad this morning.
A January sale is now looking more likely as it is understood that Llorente has ruled out signing a new deal with Athletic. The striker has not been named in the side’s starting line-up this season.
Juventus spoke to Llorente about a move during the summer and had a £20million bid for the 27-year-old rejected by Athletic. However, the striker is free to commence pre-contract talks with foreign clubs from 1 January and after the events of yesterday a move away from the club during the transfer window now looks more likely.
The Daily Mail claims talks have been ongoing with Juve director Beppe Marotta saying the club still hopes to sign a big-name striker in January having failed to do so this summer. The paper adds that Juve are hoping to offer Llorente a deal worth around £200,000 a week and that he has verbally agreed to move to the Italian club. Juve are expected to offer around £7.5million.
