Tottenham forward Fernando Llorente has confirmed that Chelsea failed to agree a transfer fee with Swansea City back in August.
A report in the Times this week said that the Blues only offered half of what Spurs paid for the 32 year old. Speaking on Cadena SER radio programme El Larguero (quotes via AS), Llorente revealed the chain of events on deadline day:
“I was talking to Antonio Conte, but they did not agree with Swansea City.These are soccer things. Then I called Pochettino and I loved it, the project they sold me, I’m very happy.”
The Spanish forward makes it very clear in the above quote that Conte very much wanted him to sign for Chelsea given the fact they held a conversation about the transfer.
Chelsea are said to have been unwilling to pay more than £5m for the Llorente as they felt the striker had no re-sale value, while his mobility was also questioned. Considering he is a target man wanted by Conte to provide an alternative aerial threat, it seems strange that his lack of pace even entered the equation to be honest.
