According to The Sun, West Ham are among the clubs interested in the services of Fernando Llorente. The Tottenham Hotspur forward is now a free agent and is expected to leave the club after the Champions League final with Liverpool comes to an end. The Hammers are reportedly on red alert and are keen on bringing the veteran striker to the London Stadium. But, they could face fierce competition from league rivals Leicester City.
Llorente’s struggles at Tottenham
Llorente joined Tottenham back in 2017, as a back-up for England striker Harry Kane. However, after two seasons at the club, the forward is yet to surpass the 1,000-minute mark in the league, which is unacceptable for a player of his calibre.
This season, he has played only 683 minutes of league football, only 23 of which came in the first half of the campaign. The majority of it came since the turn of the year after Kane got injured. Though, the Spaniard did impress, notably securing four assists, it wasn’t enough to satisfy Mauricio Pochettino.
Therefore, a move away from North London will be the logical choice for the veteran attacker. But should he move to West Ham next season?
Where does Llorente fit in at West Ham?
West Ham needs offensive reinforcements this summer as both Javier Hernandez and Andy Carroll have failed to deliver in front of goal, either due to injuries or lack of form. In addition, the West Ham chief has already confirmed that star player Marko Arnautovic is facing an uncertain future at the club.
Hence, Manuel Pellegrini will be keen to reshape his attacking unit after a promising debut campaign. And Llorente, to that end, could be a welcome addition given his vast experience in top-flight European football. He has featured in over 550 games throughout his professional career, which could certainly help him integrate to his new club.
Llorente’s work-ethic and aerial prowess could make him a tailor-made fit for Pellegrini’s one-dimensional footballing philosophy. But, at the same time, it’s unlikely the Spaniard will be able to reenergize the West Ham at the ripe old age of 34. Furthermore, the ex-Juventus star also offers very little mobility in the final third. And this could be a problem when linking up with dynamic attackers like Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson.
Hence, West Ham should really drop their interest in Llorente and pursue someone preferably younger. Maxi Gomez, for one, will be an exciting option for the Hammers.
