Athletic Bilbao director Rafael Alkorta has confirmed the club are looking to re-sign Ander Herrera and Fernando Llorente.
The Premier League pair are also joined by Javi Martinez and Ibai Gomez on the club’s wishlist, with Bilbao looking to get the deals done this month.
Will Bilbao get their Basque reunion? Five key things to know…
- Athletic Bilbao have endured a poor season in La Liga, currently sitting 17th.
- As a result, the club are looking at drastically improve their squad in January.
- The club are known for their unwritten rule of signing players purely from the Basque region or to have learned their skills in the area.
- And Herrera, Martinez, Gomez and Llorente are all targets for the club – having previously represented Bilbao.
- Bilbao currently have just one non-Spanish player in their registered La Liga squad this season.
Bilbao have been seriously struggling in La Liga this season and currently sit just two points outside the relegation zone after 18 games, winning just three times.
And the club’s sporting director Alkorta has confirmed Bilbao are looking to turn their fortunes around during the January transfer window, targeting four ex-players.
“We are interested in Javi Martinez, Ibai Gomez, Ander Herrera, Fernando Llorente … we are interested in all of them,” Alkorta told Cadena Ser, as reported by Football Espana.
“Any player who can represent Athletic (through their Basque roots) will interest us and players in that quality bracket interest us, so yes.
“We are aware none of these deals would be easy but we are interested in exploring the possibilities of what we can do.
“We have not made any moves yet but we will get to work this week and get going on these fronts.”
Like England, the Spanish transfer window closes on January 31.
Llorente open to Bilbao return
Though Alkorta has spoken on the difficulties Bilbao face in securing their desired quartet, the club may find re-signing Fernando Llorente fairly straightforward.
The striker, who scored 111 goals in 327 games for Bilbao, is not enjoying life with Tottenham having played just 11 times this season with two starts.
Llorente has previously spoken of his openness to a return to the Basque club, saying in December: “My aim is to have an important role in a team.
“Would I want to return to Athletic? Yes I would like to return, if I had the opportunity to do so and if they want to speak to me.
“There is the option of another year on my contract here (at Tottenham) but the decision does not depend on me, it is up to the clubs to negotiate.”
Llorente came through the academy at Bilbao, while Ander Herrera was eligible by being born in the city. The midfielder did not join Los Leones until 2011, spending four years at the club until leaving for Manchester United.
In that time, Herrera played 128 games for Bilbao as a replacement for Basque-born Javi Martinez who joined Bayern Munich after six years and 250 games at the San Mames.
Winger Ibai Gomez is another player born in Bilbao who would go on to represent the club, playing 145 games in five years before joining current side Alaves in 2016.
The post Athletic Club director confirms interest in Herrera and Llorente reunion appeared first on Squawka News.
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