Fernando Llorente set for talks with Spurs during pre-season visit

Posted Friday, August 05, 2011 by Metro.co.uk

Fernando Llorente set for talks with Spurs during pre-season visit
Spurs will open talks with Athletic Bilbao over a move for striker Fernando Llorente when the Spanish club visits White Hart Lane for a friendly this weekend.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is reportedly keen on bringing Fernando Llorente to London

Manager Harry Redknapp is understood to have been in contact with Bilbao officials but will wait until the Spanish side settles in London to do business.

Spurs' first choice target Mirko Vucinic snubbed the club by opting for Juventus earlier in the week and time is fast running out for Tottenham to secure a top-class goalscorer before the start of the season.

The north London side could face a tough fight to sign 26 year-old Llorente, however, and while he's currently valued at £17.5million that figure could increase significantly.

Spurs showed their transfer limitations when they failed to meet the £28million asking price for Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi, but Redknapp may squeeze £25million out of chairman Daniel Levy should Llorente impress in the pre-season match.

After joining Bilbao at the age of 11, Llorente is well overdue a move and the bright lights of the Premier League offer him the the perfect platform to develop his career.

The 6ft 5in forward didn't quite get the return he was looking for last season netting 19 goals in 38 appearances, but with an adequate supply from midfield Llorente could flourish for Spurs.