Athletic Bilbao Make Do Without In-demand Pair Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez

Sunday, 26th August, 2012

Athletic Bilbao appear to be resigned to losing Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez before the transfer window closes if anything can be gleaned from the club’s training and match preparation.

Llorente has one year on his contract and has refused to sign an extension, leading to a number of clubs taking an interest in the striker, with his chief suitors Juventus.

Meanwhile, Martinez is wanted by Bayern Munich, who have been negotiating to buy the defensive midfielder, even if only by activating his buy-out clause of €40M.

There seems to have been little progress made towards selling either in recent days, but Athletic Bilbao are taking the step of having the duo train with the first team squad only sporadically.

And when coach Marcelo Bielsa holds his tactical talks, the pair are not included.

This, combined with Llorente and Martinez’ omission from the squad to travel to the Spanish capital for Monday’s La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid, is pointing firmly to the exit door before the transfer window shuts on Friday evening.

The pair are also not expected to travel to Finland for Athletic Bilbao’s Europa League qualifying second leg clash against HJK Helsinki on Thursday.

All eyes will therefore be on the San Mames to see if the pair are sold before deadline day.