Manchester City are closing in on the signature of Athletic Bilbao forward Fernando Llorente, according to The Sun.
The Spain international has impressed at San Mames over the last couple of seasons, and has been an integral man for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this term, scoring 23 goals.
With a raft of European giants circling around the Basque club’s talisman, Roberto Mancini’s side are thought to have taken the initiative in the race for the powerful striker.
City are believed to have bid £30million for Llorente, and are set to offer the Spaniard £200,000-a-week wages, which many of the attacker’s suitors may not be able to match.
Spurs were courting the forward last summer, but are believed to now prefer to try and make Emmanuel Adebayor’s move to White Hart Lane permanent, rather than re-entering the race to sign Llorente.
By Gareth McKnight
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