Fernando Llorente nears Tottenham transfer after Spurs beat Chelsea to £15m Swansea striker

Antonio Conte saw him as the perfect senior partner for Alvaro Morata but Tottenham pushed for Llorente on Wednesday and are set to complete the deal this afternoon

Thursday 31 August 2017 14:03 BST

Fernando Llorente is set to join Tottenham (Getty)

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a deal for Swansea City striker Fernando Llorente from under the noses of Chelsea.

Spurs have agreed a fee with Swansea of close to £15million as well as a three-year contract with the Spain international. Llorente underwent a medical at Spurs’ Enfield training base this morning.

Chelsea had been favourites for Llorente’s signature for weeks, especially given that he played for Antonio Conte at Juventus before.

Tottenham summer transfer targets

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1/8Tottenham summer transfer targets

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Which players could Spurs sign this summer?

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Tottenham summer transfer targets

Joshua King, Bournemouth

Norwegian striker Josh King has had a fine season, scoring 16 goals for a Bournemouth side which hovered precariously above the relegation zone for parts of the season. He played a key role in keeping the Cherries up and, given his performances, has caught the interest of Tottenham. The player admitted in an interview earlier in the season that he is pleased that Spurs have recognised his talents - comments which have added fuel to the fire over a potential £15m move. Pochettino is eager to solve the goalscoring issue his team faces when Harry Kane is injured or rested and King, who also qualifies as home-grown, could be the ideal solution.

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Max Meyer, Schalke

Schalke set the midfielder’s price-tag last summer at £45m for interested teams, but having remained at the club, Meyer has stalled over signing a new contract. With his current deal expiring next summer there is a realistic chance he will look to move on, and for a significantly lower fee than originally stated, at around £20m. Tottenham are among those monitoring his situation and could look to bring him in to increase squad depth ahead of another packed season.

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Ben Gibson, Middlesbrough

A similar case to Michael Keane, the 24-year-old centre back is highly rated and won his first England call-up against Lithuania this year. Chelsea, who view him as an ideal replacement for the departing John Terry, seem to be in the driving seat. With Kevin Wimmer looking likely to leave, Tottenham will be in the market for a centre-back and hold interest in Gibson, though Chelsea’s eagerness to secure his signature may complicate things.

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Ross Barkley, Everton

The Everton midfielder has obvious talent but has failed to perform consistently at his club. It is thought a change of scenery to invigorate his career is something the player would consider, and Tottenham are keen to snap him up if the chance arises. Barkley’s contract expires next summer and it is believed that Ronald Koeman will look to cash in on the playmaker to avoid losing him for free next season. That is no surprise, especially as he could cost interested clubs £30m.

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Demarai Gray, Leicester City

Pochettino’s preference to buy players who already possess Premier League experience could see the Leicester winger, 20, become the subject of Tottenham interest this summer. Gray made 72 appearances for Birmingham City, where he came through the ranks, before joining Leicester in 2016 and gained 12 league caps to help the club win the Premier League title. With bags of pace and potential, he has also represented England from U18 to U21 level and is tipped for future success. A fee of £12m could be enough to prise the youngster away from Leicester this summer.

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Ryan Sessegnon, Fulham

The young left-back has now turned 17 and, as a result, is legally allowed to sign his first professional contract. A host of top clubs have scouted the player, who impressed at Craven Cottage in Fulham’s televised FA Cup tie against Tottenham back in February, but the West Londoners are keen to keep hold of him by guaranteeing him first team football. Tottenham have been strongly linked to the youngster in recent days, though, and Fulham can expect a fight to hold onto the defender.

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace

The winger recently signed a new five-year contract at Selhurst Park in a move that will surely repel any interested clubs. Nonetheless, football works in mysterious ways and having already made a move for the winger last season, there’s no reason Spurs won’t come knocking a second time. Having said that, Tottenham would need to be serious in what they offer, as opposed to last summer’s £12m bid, if they’re to stand any chance of bringing Palace to the trading table.

Conte saw him as the perfect senior partner for the young Alvaro Morata, who they signed from Real Madrid earlier this summer.

But Tottenham pushed for Llorente on Wednesday and are set to complete the deal this afternoon. That would allow Vincent Janssen to leave, with West Bromwich Albion interested, and give Mauricio Pochettino a more experienced Plan B striker to fill in for Harry Kane.

Janssen has struggled to make an impression since he arrived from AZ Alkmaar last summer.

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Fernando Llorente nears Tottenham transfer after Spurs beat Chelsea to £15m Swansea striker

Antonio Conte saw him as the perfect senior partner for Alvaro Morata but Tottenham pushed for Llorente on Wednesday and are set to complete the deal this afternoon

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Tottenham summer transfer targets

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Joshua King, Bournemouth

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Max Meyer, Schalke

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Ben Gibson, Middlesbrough

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Ross Barkley, Everton

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Demarai Gray, Leicester City

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Ryan Sessegnon, Fulham

Tottenham summer transfer targets

Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace

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