Exclusive: Tottenham first teamer to quit after contract option expires

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on:

20 May 2019, 6:17 am

EXCLUSIVE By Pete O'Rourke

Fernando Llorente will leave Tottenham on a free transfer this summer after the deadline to take up the option to extend his contract expired over the weekend, Football Insider can reveal.

The Spanish forward sees his contract at the north London expire next month and, although Spurs had an option to extend his agreement, they did not take it up before it expired on Saturday night.

A Tottenham source has told Football Insider that the 34-year-old, who has played such a key role in helping Tottenham reach the Champions League against Liverpool, will now leave at the end of June.

Llorente scored the decisive strike in the stunning quarter-final win over Manchester City and he helped turn the game against Ajax in the second leg of their semi-final success.

The ex-Spain international has scored eight goals and supplied five assists from 34 appearances this season, the majority of which have been as a substitute.

A number of clubs at home and abroad are understood to be preparing moves for the former Juventus striker on a free transfer.

Tottenham will now be in the market for striking reinforcements this summer to replace Llorente and find suitable cover and back-up options for Harry Kane.

In other Spurs news, it can be REVEALED that the club have secured a jawdropping £230million windfall.

Tottenham Hotspur