Arsenal are weighing up a move for Spanish ace Fernando Llorente, as their star striker Robin van Persie’s exit becomes more imminent.
Van Persie has been heavily rumoured with an exit from the Emirates after he announced that he would not sign a new contract with the club at the end of his current deal next summer.
Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger still harbours hopes of holding onto his skipper, but wants to resolve the issue by the end of the week, in order to receive enough time to find a suitable replacement.
Wenger has made contingency plans for life without Van Persie in case the striker does leave, and has circled in on Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente as a perfect replacement for the 28-year old.
Llorente, who scored 28 times for Bilbao last term, has a £28 million release clause in his contract, with Wenger expected to use the £20 million he will receive from Van Persie’s sale to tempt the 27-year old Spanish centre-forward.
Wenger is of the belief that Llorente’s huge physical frame and ball-playing abilities would suit both the Premier League and Arsenal’s style of play, and is ready to make a bid for the striker when he receives an acceptable bid for Van Persie.
However, he has a few other replacements up his sleeve as well in case he is out-priced for Llorente, with Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski and Fiorentina starlet Stefan Jovetic both on his radar.
No they’re not. Groud and Podolski are RVP’s replacements. Arsenal are reinvesting the money into a midfielder. This article is misinformed (or more likely made up entirely).