Manchester City are closing in on Atletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente - and are ready to pay the €36million buy-out clause in his contract.

Reports in Spanish newspaper AS claim the new Premier League champions have already met with the forward's brother Chus, who also acts as his agent.

It has been reported that meeting took place on April 27, when Eastlands officials made clear their desire to take the 27-year-old Spanish international to England.

The paper says City are willing to splash out that huge fee as they believe Llorente could be the perfect partner for this season's top scorer, Sergio Aguero.