Reports in the Sun suggest that English moneybags Manchester City are on the verge of completing the signing of Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente. The aforementioned daily goes on to add that talks have already begun between the clubs and Bilbao’s inability to secure a berth in either the Champions League or the Europa League could force them to sell their biggest star.
Tottenham are also believed to be keen on the striker, and although they are willing to match City in terms of the transfer fee, they are incapable of equaling the wages on offer at the Etihad, a figure believed to be in the region of £200,000-a-week.
Roberto Mancini is believed to be willing to sell the likes of Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez in the summer and if the trio do make an exit then Mancini would have ample finances to see this deal through. Moreover, Llorente has proved to be an excellent goalscorer during his career with Athletic Bilbao having amassed 112 goals in 288 appearances and has been in excellent touch this season as well, having found the back of the net 28 times in 45 appearances.
It will be interesting to see though if any of the other European giants come in with a bid, because if the striker is put up for sale then there will surely be a lot of interest in him
