Quote:
Liverpool are turning their attentions to the Juventus striker Fernando Llorente and Sevilla’s Carlos Bacca after refusing to meet the £32.5 million release fee to sign Christian Benteke from Aston Villa.
Llorente is expected to be made available by the Italian champions, who are reshaping their attack this summer and signing Atlético Madrid’s Mario Mandzukic, while Sevilla have insisted, so far, that Bacca is not for sale.
There is understood to be a €30 million (£21.4 million) release clause in Bacca’s contract, which Sevilla say has to be met, while Juventus may try to hold out for as much as €20 million (£14.3 million) for Llorente but will probably let him go for less.
Liverpool are determined to add to their strike-force and had targeted Benteke, having signed Danny Ings, for a fee to be set by a tribunal but which could be £5 million to £7 million, although they will not bid anywhere near the Belgian international’s buy‑out clause. As that interest has started to cool, possibly to see whether Villa lower their asking price, Liverpool are examining the possibility of signing either Llorente or Bacca.
Llorente, the Spanish international, is 30 while Bacca – a prolific goalscorer in La Liga, who is representing Colombia in the Copa América, where he was sent off with Neymar in the fiery group game against Brazil – is 28.
Although their age does not fit in with the preferred policy of Liverpool’s owners, the Fenway Sports Group, who want to sign younger players, Brendan Rodgers has argued for more experienced quality to strengthen his squad having already brought in 29‑year-old James Milner.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...los-Bacca.html
It has been a long time coming but something to get excited about at last. Bacca would be a quality signing, exactly the kind of striker we need. Not convinced Llorente would be the best option at this point though.