President: Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal & Man City yet to meet striker’s asking price

Athletic Bilbao are reluctant to allow Fernando Llorente to leave the club. Photo: Stephen Pond/EMPICS Sport

Tuesday, August 28, 2012
4:41 PM

Transfer news: Fernando Llorente has been linked with a move to one of Europe’s top clubs

Athletic Bilbao have reaffirmed that no club has met their valuation of Fernando Llorente and made clear their desire to keep hold of the striker.

Italian giants Juventus have been tipped as favourites to secure the Spain hitman’s signature, but the Basque club are refusing to let him go cheaply.

London trio Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as champions Manchester City, have all been linked with Llorente, who was left out of Bilbao’s 4-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid on Monday night.

“If Juventus really want Llorente they should hunt down every cent of his €36m clause,” Bilbao President Josu Urrutia told Canal Plus after the game last night.

“The future of Llorente is not in our hands.

“I’ve always said that a player can go if they don’t care about Athletic anymore or if someone pays their termination clause, but these conditions do not exist.

“He’s an Athletic player and we continue to rely on him.”