Bradley: Summer signing ‘has future’, but must improve

Mark Scott
Fernando Llorents: Unaware of Chelsea interest

Fernando Llorents: Unaware of Chelsea interest

Swansea manager Bob Bradley has told striker Fernando Llorente to reach “a higher level” after suffering a poor start to the season.

The Spaniard has scored just one goal since making the £5million switch from Sevilla and was left out of the squad against Everton after concerns about his fitness.

The ex-Juventus striker has been tipped to return to Italy in January, but boss Bradley is not willing to give up on him just yet.

“Fernando has a future here, he is a good man,” said Bradley in the build-up to Swansea’s clash against Crystal Palace.

“I had a very good conversation with Fernando when I told him he would not be in the squad for the Everton game.

“Before he arrived he’d had a stretch of injuries. He got here, he’s had some little knocks and I just told him. I’ve watched him plenty, I felt we’d made strides with him physically, but he still wasn’t where he needed to be.

“I felt his response to all that was playing with a little less mobility, and I think Fernando’s best games in the past have not been about him being a target man.

“I felt that specifically against Stoke and Man United. I felt as a team, we didn’t do a good job of how we used Fernando, and I don’t think Fernando did a good enough job of moving in those games, of challenging defenders with his movement.

“There’s still a higher level for him.”