Why Tottenham should sign Diego Llorente in the summer
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Premier League clubs West Ham United and Fulham are interested in signing ex-Real Madrid centre-back Diego Llorente. As per another Spanish outlet Cadena Ser, Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle United are also keeping close tabs on the player.
The 25-year-old is currently plying his trade with Real Sociedad in La Liga, having joined from Real Madrid in the summer of 2017. He was a part of the youth system at Los Blancos and played for the C and B team in the Spanish capital.
There is one club in England who could very soon be short of centre-backs – Tottenham Hotspur. Here’s why they should take more interest in Llorente and sign him in the summer transfer window:
Spurs need a quality centre-back
Looking at Tottenham’s defence, they have two centre-backs who are out of contract at the end of this season and haven’t signed a new contract – Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.
Spurs have Davinson Sanchez as the other option, while Juan Foyth is still very raw at the highest level. Hence, it is imperative to say that they do need a new centre-back, if not in January, then in the next summer window. Diego Llorente could be an ideal player for the system Mauricio Pochettino likes to play.
The 25-year-old is a versatile player who is predominantly a centre-back but can operate as a right-back or as a defensive midfielder. He is physically strong and wins aerial duels in abundance to dominate the opposition.
Being a Real Madrid graduate, he is fearless in any situation, can pass the ball out from the back even when the strikers press high.
Llorente is deceptively quick as well, meaning he can make recovery runs while playing in a high-line defence.
All in all, the Spaniard is everything Pochettino looks for in his centre-backs, chiefly because of the high-intensity football he plays.
Thus, it is not tough to say that Tottenham should make a move for Llorente. He will add an extra dimension to their game at the back, taking the team to another level of greatness.