Teams should be fighting for Llorente (Video)
It was revealed today that Fernando Llorente will be leaving Athletic Bilbao when his contract expires at the end of the season. The Spaniard has been linked with a move away from the La Liga outfit for much of the season, having featured just 16 times for Athletic this year, many of which from the substitute bench.
A spectacular falling out with head coach Marcelo Bielsa earlier this year meant his time with the club was always going to limited and now the player himself has confirmed he will be leaving the San Mamés next summer.
Unsurprisingly, clubs will likely be fighting over each other to land the talented striker. Despite netting just once this season, Llorente is still the ideal target man for many a club across Europe.
Finding the goal 29 times last year, career best for the ‘Lion King’, a raft of bids had been expected for the 27-year-old over the summer, but while Juventus came closest to snaring him away from Spain; any move ultimately failed to materialise.
Out of contract in a little over six months time, clubs can begin to speak to Llorente and his representatives regarding a move next year. A host of teams are expected to be queuing up to speak to the striker and for all the right reasons.
The Spain international is rightly considered an ideal target man – strong in the air, capable of bringing others into play and, as clichéd as it sounds, has good feet for a big man. Confirmation of his intention to leave will only heighten speculation regarding a possible move, but clubs will have to act quickly, due to interest being high in the player dubbed a “Bilbao Legend”.
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