Former Athletic Bilbao and Juventus star scored 15 Premier League goals last season
CHELSEA are back in for Swansea City striker Fernando Llorente, according to reports.
Antonio Conte was desperate to land the Spaniard in January, but the target man ultimately elected to stay in South Wales to help Swansea beat relegation.
With Diego Costa apparently ‘hours away’ from returning to Atletico Madrid – despite their transfer ban – Conte will again chase his former striker.
The Times report that the Blues still see Llorente, 32, as a viable back-up option as they plot another Premier League trophy and a deep run in the Champions League.
The former Athletic Bilbao star, who won a Serie A title under Conte with Juventus, was crucial to Swansea staying in the top flight last season.
In May he said: “I know Chelsea wanted me in January.
“I said straight away that I wanted to stay here. We were fighting relegation, there was a cause. I could not go.”
He scored 15 Premier League goals, including two in a crucial win against Burnley in early March and four in the final five games to help Paul Clement’s team pick up 13 points out of a possible 15.
But Llorente now has just a year left on his contract and could be available for a cut-price fee.
As SunSport revealed last week, the striker broke his arm while cycling on holiday but will be fit for the start of the new season.
Chelsea have been looking at a number of different striking options after Costa’s public row with Conte all but ended his time in west London.
Romelu Lukaku had been their No 1 target – although Manchester United are now trying to hijack that move with a £100million deal with Everton that includes Wayne Rooney.
The Blues are close to sealing their £34million deal for German defender Antonio Rudiger from Roma.
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