Transfer news: Arsenal set to continue search for a new striker after Juventus issue a hands-off warning over Fernando Llorente

Interest remains in Karim Benzema, Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez but hopes of taking Llorente on loan appear to have disappeared

Fernando Llorente could leave Juventus on loan with Arsenal believed to be interested (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal’s search for another striker looks set to continue after Juventus’ general director Giuseppe Marotta issued a hands-off message to the Gunners following speculation surrounding a move for Spaniard Fernando Llorente.

The 28-year-old only joined the Italian league champions in January on a free transfer but has seen his first team opportunities somewhat limited due to competition with fellow forwards Carlos Tevez, Fabio Quagliarella and Mirko Vucinic.

Reports in Italy earlier this week claimed that the Premier League leaders had already enquired about the possibility of taking Llorente on loan for the rest of the season to provide competition and cover for current striker Olivier Giroud, with little coming from deputies Nicklas Bendtner, Yaya Sanogo and Park Chu-Young.

Despite starting the majority of games on the bench at the beginning of the season, Llorente has enjoyed a regular starting berth over the last few weeks, although that is partly due to the injury picked up by Vucinic that ruled him out of Montenegro’s World Cup qualifier with England last month.

Llorente was dropped for last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Parma, but despite the same reports suggesting that the Gunners had offered €20 million (£16.7m) for his services – although a loan was the more likely option – Marotta has spoken to dismiss any talk of the striker leaving Turin.

"The player is not for sale, he has never been for sale, and he remains with us,” Marotta told Tuttosport. “There is great confidence in the boy, he is reaching top condition. We are very happy with him and with his progress.”

The former Atletico Bilbao star has slipped out of the reckoning in Vicente Del Bosque’s Spain squad, having seen Fernando Torres, David Villa, Roberto Soldado and Alvaro Negredo be named for recent matches, as well as Swansea’s Michu.

Furthermore, Diego Costa’s decision to play for the current World Cup holders rather than his native Brazil has dented Llorente’s chances of making next summer’s tournament, and he will need to be playing regular football to stand any chance of being selected by Del Bosque.

As for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, he remains undeterred in his efforts to sign another front-man, having failed in his attempt to lure Liverpool striker Luis Suarez to the Emirates in the summer.

The north London club mounted a very public pursuit of the Uruguayan striker, culminating in a £40m plus £1 bid being turned down by Anfield officials – infuriating them in the process as a supposed clause in Suarez’s contract had been identified to the Gunners.

Interest remains in Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, while reports this morning have also identified Rooney’s team-mate Javier Hernandez as a potential candidate to strengthen their Premier League title campaign.

Wenger has said previously that he would be content with playing out the season with his current options, with Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski also able to play up-front should they be required – although the pair are currently injured with Walcott nearing a comeback.

However, the club have made it no secret that the funds are available to reinforce the team should Wenger feel the need, and having already made their intent clear with the £42.5m summer signing of Mesut Ozil, the 64-year-old Frenchman could certainly tap into the transfer budget come January.