Chelsea are lining up a January move to sign Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente, according to the Independent.
The newspaper claims that the Blues manager Antonio Conte wants to try land the 32-year-old in the January transfer window to help fix his problems in attack.
It is understood that Chelsea wanted to sign the Spain international in the summer, but they lost out to their London rivals Spurs as he completed a £12million move.
The report details that the reigning Premier League champions feel Llorente could help get the best out their current striker Alvaro Morata, with the pair previously working together at Juventus.
The Independent reports its unclear on Spurs’ stance over Llorente as manager Mauricio Pochettino is a big fan of the powerful centre-forward, despite him playing a secondary role to Harry Kane this season.
Spurs have found it difficult negotiating transfers with rivals Chelsea over the years and this could prove the case once again.
Good move for Spurs?
Llorente has hardly torn up trees at Spurs during his first six months at the club with just two goals, but selling to a direct rival would be a mistake.
The striker has been unable to replicate the form of last season where he scored 15 times in the league for Swansea, but has had to play second fiddle to Kane.
He could still play an important role in the second half of the campaign during a busy schedule and Spurs simply can’t afford to lose their second-choice striker.
Llorente would be a good fit at Chelsea under Conte and chairman Daniel Levy must put his foot down by blocking any potential move.
This Is Futbol rating: 1/10
Likely to happen?
It seems unlikely that Spurs would agree a deal with a direct top four rival mid-way through the season as there is not much to separate the two teams.
Llorente only moved to the north London club in January and it would be a big surprise to see him move over to the Blues.
Chelsea are in a mad hunt for a new striker during the window which has led them to Andy Carroll and now Llorente, but the latter seems an unlikely move.
This Is Futbol rating: 3/10