Why Leeds United should avoid signing Fernando Llorente
According to a report in Sun Football, Championship fliers Leeds United are eyeing up a stunning deal for Tottenham Hotspur outcast Fernando Llorente. The veteran ex-Juventus striker is keen to quit the north London club after becoming a bit-part player under Mauricio Pochettino.
It is not easy to replace Harry Kane in an England-based club and hence, Llorente has no choice but to either stay on the bench – or as he is keen on doing – leave the club.
Spurs are willing to let the striker leave for a cut-price £4m fee in the next transfer window to avoid losing him for free at the end of this season. This has alerted Leeds and Marcelo Bielsa, who is eyeing up a reunion with the Spaniard, who he managed during his Athletic Bilbao days. (Sun)
Looking at their current situation, the Peacocks do need a striker to support Kemar Roofe. Patrick Bamford is there as a backup but he is injured at the moment and would only return to the first-team after January. Being a long-term injury, the former Middlesbrough forward won’t straight away hit the ground running.
Hence, the club is right in looking for a striker but they should dodge the idea of signing Llorente. Here’s why:
Playing time issue
The veteran Spaniard is leaving Spurs because he became a peripheral part of the squad, with Kane starting every other game. Therefore, if Leeds do sign him, we cannot see him starting ahead of Kemar Roofe. As a result, the 33-year-old will warm the bench at Elland Road more often than not and would only be used when required.
Culminating the above fact, we can say that Llorente might not be a satisfied man even if he joins Leeds. Furthermore, with the way Bielsa plays football, he requires someone agile up front.
This is why Roofe is the manager’s favourite as he can press the opposition centre-backs without possession and work hard to win the ball as high as he can. Llorente is not that type of a forward and instead, he is more of a target man who prefers crosses into the box from both corners of the field.
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Verdict
The talk of perspectives comes into play whenever there is a transfer rumour in the mill. If we peruse the scene here, neither Leeds’ nor Llorente’s satisfaction would be assured in this possible deal.