Tottenham and Arsenal are chasing Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente. The London Evening Standard says both north London clubs are monitoring closely the position of the Spain forward, who has been frozen out by Athletic after refusing to sign a new contract last summer. Llorente's current deal expires at the end of the campaign.

The 27-year-old could be available for a cut-price fee in next month's transfer window but the likelihood is that he will be made to stay until the end of the campaign, even though Athletic would miss out on a fee - although Llorente is allowed to agree terms in January for a summer transfer abroad.

Spurs, in particular, have examined the Spanish market closely and showed strong interest last summer not only in Llorente but in his fellow internationals Alvaro Negredo and Roberto Soldado.