Napoli and Manchester United eyeing free agent Llorente
The well-travelled striker is set for another move after his contract at Spurs expired and AS understands Napoli are keen to sneak in for the 34-year-old.
Fernando Llorente’s ability to pop up at the right place at the right time is not confined solely to the penalty area and the former Athletic Bilbao striker could be set for a move to either Napoli or Manchester United after his contract at Tottenham expired at the end of last season.
Already guaranteed a spot of cult status in London after his Champions League heroics last season, Llorente could now be the man to fill a Plan B gap at Old Trafford after the departure of Romelu Lukaku or an impact player at the San Paolo under Carlo Ancelotti if Napoli get their way and steal a march on United for the 34-year-old. Not bad for a player who might have assumed that his career was on a downward spiral after a season at Swansea following his San Mamés days, Juventus and Sevilla.
Napoli looking to Milik Llorente's free agent status
AS has learned that the Basque target man’s representatives are in Naples and in advanced talks with the Serie A side over a move to provide cover for Arkadiusz Milik, Aurelio De Laurentiis apparently having given up on Mauro Icardi much as he did Real Madrid’s James Rodríguez, due to excessive heel-dragging at San Siro.
While James remains a possibility – the Colombian’s place at Madrid is far from certain and the last days of the transfer market could spring a surprise or two – Napoli are keen to snap up free agent Llorente to add a bit of beef to the attacking line after securing the guile of Hirving Lozano this week. United, with the Premier League window closed, can only sign out-of-contract players and Llorente’s three years of English top-flight experience will tempt Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a man who knows a bit about coming off the bench to change a game, but as things stand Napoli hold the advantage.