Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente recently revealed that he sought advice from ex-Liverpool stars Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres over a potential move to the Premier League. It's no secret that the Reds are long-term admirers of the Spanish star, and Llorente himself confirmed earlier in the year that representatives from Anfield 'came to Bilbao' to negotiate a possible transfer. Llorente's team-mate, Fernando Amorebieta is also on the club's wanted list, but it looks like Liverpool may be forced to wait until the summer to move forward with any transfer deals.
Speaking to the Spanish Press yesterday, Athletic Bilbao President Josu Urrutia provided an update on the futures of Llorente and Amorebieta. He said:
"There will not be any movement in the winter. The team is much more competitive with Llorente in attack.
"There is no progress with Amorebieta, but we are expecting a positive response from his representatives soon. We know that the player wants to renew [his contract]."
Llorente's current deal contains a €36million (£29million) buy-out clause, and last month, Basque public television channel Euskal Telebista (ETB), announced the following on its website:
"Fernando Llorente wants to leave Athletic and he informed the directors on Friday. The player cites sporting reasons for making the decision"
It appears that Llorente has made up his mind to leave, but the move will probably take place in the summer, which ties in with Urrutia's statement.
In April 2012, Liverpool Chairman Tom Werner suggested that transfer funds would not be a problem for the right player:
"I would say we certainly have the resources to compete with anybody in football"
Signing the Spaniard may appear to be a pipe dream for LFC fans at the moment, but if Brendan Rodgers were really interested, I'm sure FSG would put up the money to sign him, or a striker of comparable quality.
Luis Suarez joined Liverpool when the club was not in the Champions League, so it's conceivable that other top players could do the same. In my view, FSG should pull out all the stops to sign him.
As for Amorebieta - According to reports in Italy and Spain this week, Bilbao have rejected Liverpool's €12m offer for the 27-year old star, and the club is now readying an improved €14m bid.
Amorebieta - nicknamed 'El Indomable' (The Indomitable) by the Bilbao's fans - has a £26m release clause in his contract, but given the fact his current contract expires in June 2013, Bilbao will have to give him a new contract, or risk losing him for nothing in one year.
Jaimie Kanwar
Speaking to the Spanish Press yesterday, Athletic Bilbao President Josu Urrutia provided an update on the futures of Llorente and Amorebieta. He said:
"There will not be any movement in the winter. The team is much more competitive with Llorente in attack.
"There is no progress with Amorebieta, but we are expecting a positive response from his representatives soon. We know that the player wants to renew [his contract]."
Llorente's current deal contains a €36million (£29million) buy-out clause, and last month, Basque public television channel Euskal Telebista (ETB), announced the following on its website:
"Fernando Llorente wants to leave Athletic and he informed the directors on Friday. The player cites sporting reasons for making the decision"
It appears that Llorente has made up his mind to leave, but the move will probably take place in the summer, which ties in with Urrutia's statement.
In April 2012, Liverpool Chairman Tom Werner suggested that transfer funds would not be a problem for the right player:
"I would say we certainly have the resources to compete with anybody in football"
Signing the Spaniard may appear to be a pipe dream for LFC fans at the moment, but if Brendan Rodgers were really interested, I'm sure FSG would put up the money to sign him, or a striker of comparable quality.
Luis Suarez joined Liverpool when the club was not in the Champions League, so it's conceivable that other top players could do the same. In my view, FSG should pull out all the stops to sign him.
As for Amorebieta - According to reports in Italy and Spain this week, Bilbao have rejected Liverpool's €12m offer for the 27-year old star, and the club is now readying an improved €14m bid.
Amorebieta - nicknamed 'El Indomable' (The Indomitable) by the Bilbao's fans - has a £26m release clause in his contract, but given the fact his current contract expires in June 2013, Bilbao will have to give him a new contract, or risk losing him for nothing in one year.
Jaimie Kanwar
I am afraid you have gone crazy. Suggesting we should dish out 30 million for 27 year old Llorente is insane. I think you need a mental check up. Just sayin.....
ReplyDeleteim sure it will be the same as most jan windows. just don't get your hopes up. still a few players need to go first
ReplyDeleteah,14 million.....
ReplyDeletefor amoribieta would be wiser
ReplyDeleteMadrid????
ReplyDeleteIsn't llorentes contract up this season? Like huntelaar and Walcott ?
ReplyDeleteWhere did I say that LFC should pay that amount? I just said LFC should prioritise his signing; the chances are the actual transfer fee would be far lower.
ReplyDeleteHuntelaar is my fav to sign along with walcott but not in a deal
ReplyDeletethat would see sterling going to the gonners.
Do it do it do it please
ReplyDeleteJeez, I see you have been reading the scaremongering rags online then.... only ONE report with Walcott coming in, with £8m - and Sterling going the other way.
ReplyDeleteSeriously? You believed it?
You are just as deluded, and short-sighted as Jamie 'My Opinion Matters' Kanwar
topmandro if you even thought for a minute when you read an article saying sterling to arsenal for walcott then your a bit nieve sorry , that was just a sad and lonely journalist that had nothing to do so he wrote that tripe , no way in teh world will sterling leave liverpool for arsenal , if any one will be going it will be downing . and i firmly belive sooner or later we will be seeing walcott in a liverpool shirt soon ,along side a new striker
ReplyDeleteagree no way should sterling be used as a make wieght unless he will not sign a new contract imo would not want walcott anyway hes overated
ReplyDeletenot going to happen this Jan.
ReplyDeleteshould have prioritised rhodes like we both agreed on 2 for scotland 3 for blackburn not a bad week think we mist another bargain there if only life was so simple
ReplyDeleteDun waste m9ney again Liverpool as we have better plans cheaper players compare to the agibg duo.
ReplyDeleteThere are several top strikers available, will FSG go for it?????. If they do we can easily finish top 4, the other teams are nothing to fear for us!!!
ReplyDelete7 games unbeaten and playing well, It is defo coming together now, how good was Jose Enrique????.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame we missed Michu last summer, a younger version of Berbatov for just £2m. Can anyone imagine him and suarez banging them in together???, he is class!!!
ReplyDeletethrown in a few comments from other sources jamie to make people think you are not talking sh1te
ReplyDeleteLlorente aint all that!
ReplyDeleteWe need a much more prolific sticker; Jackson Martinez would fit in the LFC Way!!!
The Hunter will be a great acquisition as well as he comes on the cheap at the moment...
No way liverpool is gonna pay that kinda crazy money for player who's gonna retire in couple years,there's much more better choices out there,you don't have to be a genius to figured that out.
ReplyDeleteI think Huntelaar and Walcott in January would be ideal signings for reasonable money considering their contracts.
ReplyDeleteIf we could then get Llorente and Moussa Sissoko on a Bosman in the summer we would have 4 very good experience additions to our squad.
as Iv commented before i dont think Rodgers will buy a striker to partner suarez, he doesnt play a formation to facilitate this. I would Love to see suarez in a partnership but Rodgers will be looking for players that can play wide. His words after the wigan game re suarez backs up my view. He has worked on getting the best out oft suarez and clearly doesnt want him restricted in a wide position.
ReplyDeleteSterling's current contract runs for another two and a half years. The player himself and the manager have both stated that an extension will be signed in a few week so there is no problem with Sterling's contract.
ReplyDeleteI own a few stickers myself, though none of them is prolific. Usually they are quite sticky, though.
ReplyDeleteI live in Bilbao and watch Athletic regularly and Amorebieta is not worth €14 million or €12 million . I wouldn't pay €5 million for him. The promise he began to show a few years ago has not been fulfilled, he has been at fault for many of the goals this season. He is also a hot-head and picks up a few red cards each season. Last year Javi Martinez made him look good.
ReplyDeleteThe rumour here is that Llorente if off to Juve either cheaply at xmas or on a bosman as his contract runs out in June.
The only Athletic player I would try to sign is Ander Herrera.
thought it was less than that 18 months may be wrong
ReplyDeleteAll I can do is name my source: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/raheem-sterling/profil/spieler_134425.html
ReplyDeleteDon't know how reliable it is.
Lorente would be a good signing. He is everything Carroll is not in terms of technique, positioning etc...
ReplyDeleteAmoribieta is a good player but I am sure we could find another cheaper and even better alternative than that.