EXCLUSIVE
By Romeo Agresti
Juventus are prepared to increase their bid for Fernando Llorente to €20 million in order to secure the want-away Athletic Bilbao striker.
Goal.com exclusively revealed at the weekend that the Bianconeri had tabled an offer of €16m for the 27-year-old, as they continue their search for a top-class centre forward.
Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia stated on Monday that Llorente has no intention of renewing his contract at San Mames, but insisted the Basque side would only let go of their talisman for his buy-out clause of €36m.
However, Goal.com understands that Juventus do not wish to go that far for the towering attacker, and will only go as high as €20m plus bonuses in their attempts to sign Llorente.
The coming days will prove decisive for a potential deal to be struck as Juventus want to wrap up the signing of a new striker before the summer transfer window enters its final week.
Llorente has also been linked with a number of Premier League sides in recent weeks, but the Italian champions’ interest currently appears to be the most concrete.