Paul Clement not always sure Fernando Llorente would stay at Swansea
Tuesday 31 January 2017 00:18, UK
Paul Clement has admitted he was not convinced striker Fernando Llorente would stay at the club amid reported interest from Chelsea.
Llorente has scored seven goals in his last 11 appearances for the Swans and had been linked with a move to Chelsea as part of a swap deal with forward Michy Batshuayi.
Clement has revealed that it was actually Swansea's 3-2 victory against Liverpool at Anfield, a match in which Llorente scored twice, which convinced the Spain international to remain in South Wales.
"No, not always," replied Clement when asked if he believed Llorente was going to remain at the club. "But after that game he had at Liverpool, he felt good.
"We're happy with him so when both parties are happy, there's no need to move.
"Of course, it [transfer interest] can put questions in a player's mind, but in my conversations with him he has been happy here.
"He has seen how the team is starting to play and he is very important to us."
Swansea have signed Luciano Narsingh, Tom Carroll and Martin Olsson during the January transfer window.
Ahead of their clash with Southampton at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday, Swansea look set to add Aston Villa forward Jordan Ayew to their ranks as part of a deal which sees left-back Neil Taylor move the other way.