Reports in today’s Daily Mirror and Daily Mail suggest that Arsène Wenger is seeking to bring the out-of-favour Juventus striker Fernando Llorente to the Emirates in the January transfer window.
The 28-year-old has earned 22 Spanish caps, scoring seven goals in the process, but his summer move from Athletic Bilbao to Serie A has proven frustrating to date.
He has appeared just four times for the Turin side to date and, having lost his place in the Spain squad, knows he needs first team football if he is to remain in Spain coach Vicente del Bosque’s thoughts ahead of next summer’s World Cup Finals in Brazil.
Arsenal arguably need to bring in another proven striker to support Olivier Giroud. Giroud’s excellent start to the season has masked something of a lack of depth in the Gunners’ strike force.
Llorente scored 85 goals in 262 games for Athletic and was one of the most sought after strikers in Europe when Juve picked him up on a Bosman free transfer last summer. Llorente is an archetypal ‘traditional’ centre forward – very strong in the air and a penalty box poacher rather than a creator of goals for others. Arsenal have lacked such a player for some years.
Llorente has, however, found himself as Juve’s second choice striker to Carlos Tevez this season. Juve coach Antonio Conte favours fielding just one forward, meaning Llorente is struggling for playing time.
Stop-gap solution may suit all parties
If Arsenal maintain their current form and are chasing several trophies by the time the next transfer window opens on 1 January, Wenger is likely to seek the services another top quality striker to ensure the squad remains competitive on all fronts.
Wenger tried to bring Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema to the Emirates in the last transfer window, and has scouted Llorente in the past. The Spaniard has also been a long-term target for north London rivals Tottenham.
Major transfers rarely occur in January, with few clubs wishing to destabilise their squads mid-season unless financial considerations force their hands. A loan for the remainder of the season may suit all parties, however, and tide the Gunners over until more players become available next summer.
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