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Fernando Llorente needs time to settle, not a move to Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs or Man City
JUVENTUS have played down speculation linking Fernando Llorente away from Turin in January amid speculation Real Madrid, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester City could be set to try and take the Spaniard on loan.
Llorente is reportedly unhappy in Italy after joining on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao at the start of the summer and could already be looking to move on.
City were linked with a surprise loan bid before the end of the transfer window, but it is now thought that Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea are also monitoring the situation.
Over the weekend Fifa agent Francois Gallardo suggested that Real Madrid was the most likely destination for the 28-year-old in January.
He said: "Fernando Llorente could get transferred to Real Madrid and play in the Champions League, as he is not getting minutes with Juve.
"Many people want [Radamel] Falcao, because he is the ‘best’, or Luis Suarez, who is also a great player, but Fernando is also very good, he knows the Spanish League and if he arrives on loan then the club won’t be splashing out in January.”
However, Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has once again moved to downplay the rumours, claiming he always expected the player to take time to settle.
Marotta said: "There is no Llorente problem. Don't forget that he didn't play that regularly last season.
"When we sign a player and hand him a four-year contract, we're evidently not looking for immediate results in the space of one or two months.
"We believe in him and it is too early to judge."