Breaking: Antonio Conte’s Transfer Plans Shuttered As Top Target Snubs Chelsea Offer
Jan 28, 2017 at 8:41 PM
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has reportedly failed in his bid to land Swansea City striker Fernando Llorente in the January transfer window.
As reported by The Guardian earlier this month, the Premier League leaders were keen on signing the Spaniard in order to offer back-up up front behind Diego Costa as they look to protect their lead at the top of the table.
Llorente, who has previously worked with Conte at Juventus, provided a timely reminder of what he could offer with a double at Anfield as the Swans defeated Liverpool to deal a huge title blow to them earlier this month, but it doesn’t look as though he’ll be heading to Stamford Bridge this month.
As noted by Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Swansea are rightly keen to keep hold of him until the end of the season as he will be crucial to their chances of avoiding relegation.
Further, he notes that ultimately it would have involved multiple moves and the complicated matter looks to have ended any possibility of a transfer going through before next week’s deadline.
F. Llorente knows the possibility of joining Chelsea is gone. Swansea didn’t want him to go plus it required a complicated move of players
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) January 27, 2017
In turn, Conte will have to make do with what he has, and if Costa is absent for whatever reason, it will be down to Michy Batshuayi to offer cover, although the Italian tactician has also favoured a ‘false 9’ system with Eden Hazard through the middle.
Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Swansea attacker insisted he is happy being part of the survival bid with the Swans with his focus on following up last Saturday’s historic first league win at Anfield.
When asked about the interest from Chelsea, Llorente said: “I am very happy here and I want to play and score more goals.
“I wanted to celebrate with the fans and say thank you. The goals meant a lot to me and it is an amazing feeling to score twice n one of the best stadiums in the Premier League against one of the best teams – but the fans deserve this feeling too because it has been tough for them.” Llorente said after the Liverpool win.
Further, Boss Paul Clement has long insisted Llorente has not been affected or unsettled by the Chelsea interest.