£30 million - Surely that price is a bargain for this striker

Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal have all been linked with Fernando Llorente.

Athletic Bilbao may think they are driving a hard bargain, but they might just outdo themselves with their star striker.

When they put a release clause in his contract of almost £30 million they probably thought it was enough to scare of Europe's big guns.

Now at 27 the striker is at a similar stage of his career to Arsenal's Robin van Persie, where he faces the choice of leaving the club where he is comfortable and performing well, to go and win medals.

Llorente scored 27 goals last season for his club, taking them on a run which saw them reach the finals of both the Europa League and the Copa del Rey.

That run will have left few in doubt of his capability to cut it against the Premier League's big boys, scoring home and away against Manchester United.

His physical style is almost very un-Spanish, and it is perhaps the fact he is not the quick and nippy David Villa type which has seen him sit on the bench for Spain so far at Euro 2012.

As a centre forward he thrives on good service into the box, is more than adept with his head - a regular source of goals - and quick with his feet.

It is not only in England he is in demand, in Spain both Real Madrid and Barcelona are interested, but his time with the national team could hint that a move to Barcelona may see him on the bench, used only as the side's touted 'plan B'.

Bilbao president Jose Urrutia said this week his side's supporters would not accept a penny less than £30 million for him, but that price sounds like a bit of a bargain to us.

When you look at it in the context that Darren Bent was signed for £24 million, Andy Carroll £35 million and Fernando Torres £50 million, signing a striker who has scored no fewer than 18 goals over the past four seasons for a previously unfashionable La Liga side is surely the going rate if not a bargain.

There is no question Manchester City could afford him, and he could replace Edin Dzeko in attack, while Chelsea's pursuit of Hulk has gone cold and they may decide Llorente would be good foil for his compatriot Torres up front.

Arsenal have been mentioned as suitors if indeed Robin van Persie leaves, a decision on which the whole club is waiting on.

For those who can afford him and have the desire to make a top price purchase, Llorente deserves to be considered.

Watch him in action below...

Would you like to see your club sign Llorente

Dan Coombs

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Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.

As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.

He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.