Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has opened talks with Juventus over a move to the Italian champions. The Spanish international will be free to move clubs when his contract expires in June.
(CNN) -- Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has opened talks with Juventus over a move to Italy in June, the Basque club confirmed on Thursday.
A 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 winner with Spain, Llorente is out of contract in six months time and is now free to discuss terms with clubs outside of his homeland.
"Juventus informed Athletic Club on January 3 that, knowing Fernando Llorente will end his time at our club on June 30 2013, they will begin negotiations with the player to incorporate him into their squad," read an Athletic statement.
Llorente impressed as Marcelo Bielsa's team reached the final of last season's Europa League before losing to Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid.
Whether striker Demba Ba will be playing for Newcastle after January has been the subject of intense speculation. The Senegal international is in talks with Chelsea after the London side triggered a £7 million ($11 million) release clause in his contract which became active again on January 1. It is "even (money) whether he'll stay or go," said Newcastle manager Alan Pardew.
Transfer window offers rich pickings
In the absence of suspended skipper Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel captained Manchester United to European Champions League glory in 1999. United trailed Bayern Munich 1-0 heading into the 90th minute, but stunned the Germans by scoring twice in a matter of minutes to seal a famous 2-1 success. The win completed an historic Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble.
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The Pamplona-born star has been in and out of the team since announcing he would not be renewing his contract with the eight-time Spanish champions and the usually prolific forward has just two goals in 16 appearances this term.
Before Juventus made their move Llorente had been linked with a move to the English Premier League, with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City all rumored to have been among his suitors.
Read: Liverpool seal Sturridge deal
The 27-year-old striker has been a consistent goal threat since breaking into the Bilbao first team in 2005, scoring 115 times in 317 appearances.
After making his debut for Spain in 2008, Llorente has netted seven goals from 21 caps for La Roja.
Juventus will hope Llorente can bolster a squad which won the Italian title last year and once again sits top of the table this term.
Antonio Conte's team drew plaudits for the stylish attacking football they played to reach the knockout stages of the European Champions League.
The highlight of the Turin club's campaign was a resounding 3-0 defeat of 2012 champions Chelsea.
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Inter Milan's Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who has not played for the Serie A club since September following a dispute over his contract, is another international likely to move during the January window.
Paris St. Germain spent $55 million to sign midfielder Lucas Moura from Sao Paulo. The 20-year-old becomes the sixth Brazilian at the ambitious French club.
Fernando Torres joined Chelsea from Liverpool for $80 million in January 2011. He has struggled at Stamford Bridge, but the Spaniard's goalscoring form has been transformed since the arrival of new interim manager Rafa Benitez.
Liverpool bought Andy Carroll to replace Torres, but the former Newcastle striker found himself out in the cold at Anfield under new manager Brendan Rodgers last summer and is now on loan at Premier League rivals West Ham.
After Carroll's departure, Liverpool have been heavily reliant on Luis Suarez's goals this season. In a bid to provide more support for the Uruguayan striker, the Anfield club signed Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge on the second day of the January transfer window.
The future of veteran Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is also in doubt, with his present deal to expire in July. He is now free to agree pre-contract terms with a foreign club in January.
"I'm proud that so many great clubs have manifested an interest in me, but they will have to wait until the end of the season, then we will see what might happen," said Atletico Madrid's top scorer Radamel Falcao recently. "Leaving Atletico in the winter transfer window is absolutely not on."
AC Milan's Brazil international forward Alexandre Pato has been negotiating with Corinthians over a return to his homeland as he seeks to revive his career ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Former England captain David Beckham is another player looking for a club. French second division side Monaco had been interested in signing the 37-year-old former LA Galaxy midfielder.
Schmeichel is backing Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund to pull off a shock and lift the Champions League for the second time in their history. The German title winners have been lauded for topping a group which contained Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax.
Lionel Messi has been unstoppable in 2012, scoring a record 90 goals so far this calendar year. Barcelona will be looking to win the Champions League for the fourth time in seven years.
Jose Mourinho has already won the Champions League with two different clubs -- Inter Milan and Porto. Despite an indifferent start to the Spanish league season, Schmeichel is confident Mourinho has the ability to lead Real Madrid to a landmark 10th European triumph.
Manchester United sit top of the English Premier League as the season approaches its halfway point, but Alex Ferguson's team has leaked goals all season. Schmeichel thinks his old club will need defender Nemanja Vidic to return to his top form if United are to stand any chance of reaching May's Wembley final.
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