Milan have joined Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona and Juventus in the chase to sign unsettled Athletic Bilbao forward Fernando Llorente, according to Italian broadcaster Mediaset.
The 27-year-old, whose contract at the Basque club expires next summer, stunned Athletic in July when he revealed that he would not be extending his current deal.
Boss Marcelo Bielsa is now resigned to losing his star forward, and it appears as though the Spain star will spark a mad scramble for his signature in January, as he will available for free from June.
Juventus are believed to be closest to securing a pre-contract agreement with the striker having offered him a €3.5m-a-year salary, but Milan are confident of snatching Llorente from under the noses of their Serie A rivals.
Mediaset claims that senior AC Milan chiefs met with Llorente’s agent Carlos Arino Bajo in Madrid to sound out a possible move to the San Siro.
News of both Milan and Juventus stepping up their interest could prompt Arsenal and Liverpool to follow suit, with Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers in dire need of a new forward before the end of the season.
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