Juventus seal deal for Llorente

Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has agreed to join Italian giants Juventus on a four-year contract at the end of the season.



The Spain international, whose deal with Athletic expires at the end of June, will become a Juve player on July 1.



A statement on juventus.com read: "Juventus can confirm that Spanish international striker Fernando Llorente will join the club on July 1, 2013.



"The 27-year-old has agreed terms on a four-year deal and will move to Turin when his Athletic Bilbao contract expires at the end of the current season."



In November, Llorente announced his decision to leave the club where he has spent nine seasons since graduating from the academy.



Amid reported interest from a host of Barclays Premier League clubs including Tottenham, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, Serie A champions Juventus publicly entered talks with Llorente at the start of January.



Llorente has made 334 appearances for Athletic, scoring 104 goals in all competitions, with his best return coming during the 2011-12 campaign when his 29 goals helped the Basque outfit to the Copa del Rey and Europa League finals.



His prolific record at San Mames has also earned Llorente international recognition. He has scored seven goals in 21 appearances for Spain and was included in the squads that won the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship.



Llorente has been used sparingly by Athletic coach Marcelo Bielsa since declaring his intention to leave, but his lack of activity has not dissuaded Juve, who currently lead the Serie A table by five points in their bid to retain the title.



Despite their dominance, Bianconeri boss Antonio Conte has struggled to forge an effective strikeforce from a pool of Mirko Vucinic, Fabio Quagliarella, Sebastian Giovinco and Alessandro Matri, with on-loan Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner failing to make an impact due to injury.



Thursday's announcement cools speculation that Juve were prepared to pay Athletic to release Llorente early, with both Didier Drogba of Shanghai Shenhua and Lyon's Lisandro Lopez being targeted as short-term solutions to the club's lack of firepower.

Llorente in talks with Juventus

Athletic Bilbao have confirmed that Juventus are in negotiations to sign Fernando Llorente when his contract expires with the Basque club.



The Serie A champions have long been linked with a move for the Spain international, who confirmed shortly before the New Year that he would be leaving the Liga outfit in the near future.



Athletic have now confirmed that Llorente is in talks with Juve over a move to the Turin club when his current deal with Marcelo Bielsa's side expires at the end of the current season.



A statement on the club's official website read: "Juventus football club has contacted Athletic Bilbao on January 3, 2013 to confirm that when Fernando Llorente completes his time with our club on June 30 2013, they will begin negotiations with the player to incorporate him into their squad."

Llorente going nowhere, says boss

Athletic Bilbao manager Marcelo Bielsa has insisted the club will not be selling their star striker Fernando Llorente in January.

The Spanish international has been linked with a move away from the La Liga outfit next month, with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur all being linked.



However Bielsa believes Athletic are going to stand firm to keep Llorente at the club, as they look to climb up the table from their current position of 15th.

He said: "The situation is what it is. Llorente leaving in January is something the club have rejected.



"There is already a fixed position, and his presence gives us something extra."

Tuesday's round up of the top transfer stories

- Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has confirmed he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.



- Fernando Torres has insisted that he wants to see out the rest of his contract and is looking to win more trophies at Chelsea.



- Chelsea have once again watched Bayer Leverkusen striker Andre Schurrle in action as they weigh up a January bid for the Germany international, according to Sky Sports.



- Chelsea and Manchester United are on alert as Jose Mourinho is set to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.



- Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign 18-year-old Brazilian right-back Wallace from Fluminense in the January transfer window.



- Senad Lulic, the Lazio midfielder linked with Chelsea, is on Inter Milan's radar.



- Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, who is believed to be a target for Barcelona and Real Madrid, has reiterated that he sees himself playing abroad in the future, stating: "If the time comes and a team that's right comes in for me, then I'll look at it seriously. I'll see what happens. Everybody wants to be playing in the Champions League."



- Manchester City target Stefan Jovetic has no intention of leaving Fiorentina - yet.



- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to sign Schalke goalscorer Klass-Jan Huntelaar next month and he could be available for a cut-price £6million, according to Dailymail.



- Tottenham have made an enquiry for Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen, who has also been linked with Liverpool, according to Goal.com.



- Daniel Sturridge's agent has denied the Chelsea striker has demanded £80,000 a week and a guaranteed role up front if he's to join Liverpool.



- Liverpool's hopes of signing Barcelona starlet Cristian Tello have been hit after news emerged that the forward is set to sign a new deal.



- Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has rejected talk of a possible swap between Wesley Sneijder and Paris Saint-Germain star Javier Pastore.



- Arsenal and Chelsea could be forced to ramp up their interest in Paris St. Germain’s Marco Verratti after Juventus emerged as serious contenders to sign him.



- Frank Lampard's hopes of heading out to the US to play in the MLS have been dealt another blow after David Beckham told his former club LA Galaxy to sign Real Madrid midfielder Kaka.



- Brazilian forward Neymar has insisted that he is happy at Santos for the moment and does not want to move to Europe yet.



- Barcelona star Ibrahim Afellay wants to make his loan move to Schalke permanent - dashing the hopes of Arsenal and Liverpool.



- AC Milan have rejected rumours linking Robinho with a move away from the San Siro in January.



- Atletico Madrid are desperate to agree a new contract with Adrian to ward off interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.



- PSV Eindhoven striker Jeremain Lens, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, has admitted to Elf Voetbal that he is interested in playing in the Premier League.

Monday's round up of the top transfer stories

- Fernando Llorente has dropped the biggest hint yet that he wants out of Athletic Bilbao - by saying he is desperate to end his barren run and leave his side as high as possible in La Liga.



- Internacional striker Leandro Damiao has hinted that he could make a move to the Premier League in the future, with Chelsea a possible destination, telling The Elastico: "The Premier League holds great attraction, of course. I was in England for quite some time during the Olympics and it is a great country with good people."



- Florent Malouda still faces being frozen out of Chelsea despite the arrival of new manager Rafa Benitez, according to talkSPORT.



- Monaco are the latest club to show interest in Chelsea’s Frank Lampard, according to Dailymail.



- Marseille striker Loic Remy, who has been linked with Chelsea and Tottenham, could be sold for as little as €10million, his agent has told Le 10 Sport.



- Wesley Sneijder is heading towards the Inter Milan exit door - and the long-term Manchester United target could yet move to AC Milan.



- Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed speculation that he is considering leaving Real Madrid in order to return to Manchester United after meeting with Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson last week.



- Benfica want to end speculation over Oscar Cardozo's future by securing the Liverpool target for another two years.



- Atletico Madrid insist they are yet to receive any bids for star striker Radamel Falcao, who is a January target for both Chelsea and Man City.



- Sir Alex Ferguson will revive his interest in Everton defender Leighton Baines after conceding defeat in his move for Ashley Cole.



- Manchester City have been told it will take an offer of well in excess of £9million to sign Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Alen Halilovic, who has been dubbed the new Luka Modric.



- Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, who in recent weeks has been linked with Chelsea, Juventus and Manchester City, has a £40million buy-out clause his contract, according to The People.



- Tottenham and Chelsea are facing increasing competition from Italy and Spain to sign highly-rated Sampdoria youngster Pedro Obiang.



- Tottenham defender Michael Dawson has shrugged off talk linking him with a move to be reunited with Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers.



- Sky Sports understands Everton are lining up a move for former Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.



- Ryan Shawcross has declared that he is settled at Stoke City and has no intention of leaving as he does not think he would be where is now without manager Tony Pulis.



- Willian says he is open to a move to the Premier League, with Tottenham and Chelsea readying bids for the Shakhtar star.



- West Bromwich have joined the race to land promising Manchester City midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim, according to Dailymail.



- Marseille have no intention of sanctioning sales in January and would be keen on bringing Didier Drogba back to France.



- Ligue 1 side Troyes have bolstered their defensive options by signing former St Etienne player Sylvain Monsoreau on a free transfer.



- AC Milan forward Robinho says he has been 'sounded out' by clubs back in his native Brazil and is keeping an open mind about a January move.



- Leeds are ready to reward El Hadji Diouf with a new contract that will put him among the top earners at the club.

Bilbao president rules out Llorente sale

Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia has issued a hands-off warning to clubs considering a January swoop for Fernando Llorente.



The striker has been linked with several of Europe's biggest sides and his lack of playing time under coach Marcelo Bielsa has led to more speculation he is set to depart in the upcoming transfer window.



However, Urrutia has made it clear the club have no intention of selling Llorente, who has attracted suitors in England and Italy, while admitting talks over a new deal for defender Fernando Amorebieta have not run smoothly.



"There will not be any movement in the winter. The team is much more competitive with Aritz (Aduriz) and Llorente in attack," he told reporters.



"There is no progress, but we are expecting a positive response (from Amorebieta's representatives) soon. We know that the player wants to renew."



Europa League runners-up last season, Athletic have struggled this campaign and have mustered just four La Liga wins to date.



But, Urrutia is remaining positive ahead of his side's clash with Real Madrid on Saturday, while leaping to the defence of teenager Iker Muniain.



"This time last year we had the same number of points in the league. The team has had a number of issues to contend with but we still have great passion," he said.



"Real Madrid are favourites but you never know how the game will unfold.



"Anyone can make a mistake. At his age, Iker shows great character. It is normal with very young players."