MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 19:51:50| >> :120:8962:8962:

Fernando Llorente: 'Joining Chelsea in January was too difficult'

Fernando Llorente acknowledges that swapping Swansea City for Chelsea in January was never going to be likely, as teams are reluctant to sell their key players.

Swansea City striker Fernando Llorente has confirmed that Chelsea were interested in signing him during the January transfer window, but says that completing a move was 'too difficult'.

The Spanish World Cup winner recently saw his name linked with a switch to the Blues, who are now under the management of his former Juventus boss Antonio Conte.

Llorente insists that he is now "very focused" on helping Swansea in their bid to secure Premier League safety, having scored eight goals in 21 top-flight appearances so far for the Welsh outfit.

"I already know Conte from Juventus," he is quoted as saying by The Mirror. "But it's difficult in the winter when there's a way out from a side you're playing for and it's normal that they didn't go ahead with the deal.

"I'm very focused on the team and am looking forward to helping save us from relegation. The last few games I've been happy with as we've gotten away from the bottom. It will be a very tough fight, though, and we hope to get further ahead when we face Leicester in a final next Sunday."

Swansea, who also kept hold of star player Gylfi Sigurdsson last month, have seen their fortunes improve under new boss Paul Clement and are currently outside the relegation zone.

ID:291246: cacheID:291246:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2595:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Paul Clement manager of Derby County looks on prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and Derby County at City Ground on November 6, 2015
Read Next:
Clement reiterates stance on Fernando Llorente
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!