Report: Fernando Llorente could leave Tottenham and rejoin Bilbao

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Fernando Llorente is expected to leave Tottenham this summer.

Spanish newspaper Marca have claimed that Tottenham Hotspur striker Fernando Llorente could rejoin former side Athletic Bilbao this summer after failing to make the grade at Spurs.

Mauricio Pochettino brought the 33-year-old to north London from Swansea City last summer, but the Spanish striker has managed to score just five goals – three of which came in the form of a hat-trick against Rochdale.

The former Juventus, Sevilla and Bilbao striker has failed to provide adequate back-up to striker Harry Kane, who has continued to shine in the final third for Spurs with a huge 37 goals in 44 games.

Now, Marca claim a return to Bilbao “would be possible”, also saying that the Spanish club would have “preferential treatment in any conversation” ahead of the summer transfer window.

Llorente could be keen to move, having been quoted in the past as saying: “It’s my house, wonderful things happened to me that will never be forgotten and Athletic will always be there, if they ever propose to come back, I’ll think about it.”

That could see Llorente decide to return to his home country after three years in the Premier League by rejoining a side that already boast firepower in the form of Aduriz, Inaki Williams and Iker Muniain.

Bilbao are only allowed to sign players from the Basque region, and Llorente fits that category despite leaving the side in 2013 to join Juventus due to his birthplace of Pamplona.

With only a year left to run on his contract, Spurs are likely to sell this summer according to the Telegraph, rather than risk losing the £12million star on a free at the end of his current deal.