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The last roadblock in the way of Fernando Llorente’s reported €15m move to Chelsea is Swansea City getting a replacement for him. The most likely replacement according to reports, is former Swansea man Wilfried Bony, who spent last season on loan at Stoke City. Bony would be challenging Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham for first-team minutes under former Chelsea assistant Paul Clement.
Only (quite significant) thing holding up Llorente to Chelsea is Swansea securing a replacement - most likely Bony
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) August 30, 2017
Earlier this morning reports suggested that the deal could happen as early as today, but that’s not looking all that likely at the moment.
Given that Chelsea don’t sign players over 30 to contracts longer than a single year, the price of €15m for a 32-year-old seems a bit much, especially given Swansea only paid £5m last summer for the Spanish striker, but such is life in the new transfer window reality.
Regardless, the deal should be finished as soon as Bony’s move from Manchester City, is completed. Once that goes through, all that will be left for Llorente to do is pass a medical and agree personal terms, unless he’s already done all that. Either way, Llorente should be a Blue sooner rather than later.