Arsenal back in for Llorente, but deal hinges on Drogba

 
       

  
  
   
       Credits:&nbsp;   GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images     Alt Text:&nbsp;   Spanish foward Fernando Llorente      

  
 
      
    Gunners resume pursuit of Spanish striker as Swansea issue &#039;hands-off&#039; warning over Michu     
 
        Transfer Talk  
       Bill Mann     
    Thursday, May 22, 2014 - 8:19am  
      The chances of Arsenal landing an A-list striker this summer could hinge on ageing hitman  Didier Drogba . That's according to  Caughtoffside,com , which claims an exclusive with the news that Juventus are "on the verge" of signing the 36-year-old  Drogba on a free transfer from Turkish outfit Galatasaray and that if the deal goes ahead then Arsenal will "be able to make a move for" long-term target  Fernando Llorente .  
 Apparently Juventus see Drogba's age as no barrier and envisage the Ivory Coast star forming a deadly duo with Carlos Tevez. Having signed Droga, the Italian champions will offload Llorente just 12 months after he signed from Athletic Bilbao. The Spanish international, who netted 18 times in 42 appearances for Juventus, will be sold to the Gunners "for a cut price fee", sure to delight Arsene Wenger who's known to be tighter than the completion deadline for a  World Cup stadium in Brazil. 
 The news concerning Llorente comes as Swansea issue a 'hands-off' warning over  Michu . The Spanish striker has been linked to both Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks, but the  Daily Express  reports that the Swans are "set to reject" all approaches for the 28-year-old. Rumours began circulating last week to the effect that Garry Monk has transfer listed Michu, prompting the Swansea boss to issue a strongly-worded denial. "He has definitely not been put up for sale by anyone at this club, me, the chairman or anyone," declared Monk. "Our only discussion about Michu is getting him back to fitness and making sure he's on the pitch for Swansea and scoring goals... we want him here at the club." 
 Still with Arsenal and the  Evening Standard  reports that  Lukasz Fabianski  is "set to snub" Arsenal and his affectionate 'Flappyhandski' nickname in search of more regular game time and supporters who aren't terrified of him. The paper says it has it on good authority that the 29-year-old gaffe-prone gloveman is being courted by a number of English teams having rebuffed all attempts by the Gunners to extend his contract. Among the teams allegedly chasing the Pole are Newcastle, Cardiff, West Ham, Swansea and Leicester. Fabianski, who joined Arsenal from Legia Warsaw in a £2.1m deal in the summer of 2007, is also being monitored by clubs from France and Italy. 
 Talking of shotstoppers,  Goal.com  says that Atletico Madrid keeper  Thibaut Courtois  has dropped another hint that he sees his future in Spain. On loan from Chelsea for the past three seasons, the Belgian is wanted by the Blues next season but the 21-year-old hopes to stay at Madrid for another spell. "I have the biggest respect for Petr Cech," Courtois said of the current Chelsea No1. "He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world so I think putting him and me in the same team is not the healthiest thing in the world," he explained. 
 Asked where he saw his future next season, he replied: "We will see in the next week if we can sit together with Chelsea to find something for next year, find out what they want, what my desire is. We will see... things are unclear at the moment." &nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;  
       Football        Fernando Llorente    Arsenal    Didier Drogba    Juventus    Michu    Liverpool FC    Thibaut Courtois    Chelsea