According to a recent report by the Evening Standard, Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has rejected the opportunity to secure the services of former Tottenham Hotspur forward and current free agent Fernando Llorente this summer. The same source has claimed that the Red Devils are eager to avoid ‘quick fixes’ which the club might end up regretting in the long-run.
Does Man United Need To Sign A New Striker?
Even though the Mancunian outfit should not concentrate on making short-term additions, the fact remains that Solskjaer is currently short in numbers up top. Romelu Lukaku’s departure to join Inter Milan earlier this summer has left a big hole in the Man United squad.
Both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are the only two senior strikers at Solskjaer’s disposal while Mason Greenwood will play as back-up to them for the 2019-20 campaign.
Hence, the Red Devils are in dire need of an experienced striker like Llorente who could come in and score some goals for them in the domestic cup competitions. Now that Martial has suffered a serious-looking injury, it should have been a wake-up for Solskjaer to bring in a fresh face up top from the free agent market.
Why Llorente Would Have Been The Perfect Fit At Old Trafford
The Spanish frontman is a proven goal-scorer in the Premier League, having made 69 league appearances for Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively while scoring 17 goals and creating five assists thus far. Llorente has also secured 24 international caps for Spain and has scored seven goals for his nation during his international career.
Standing at 1.95m tall, Llorente can be a real handful for any defender as he can win a lot of aerial duels because of his size and heading ability. The 34-year-old knows how to score some important goals for his team even though he is currently in the twilight years of his playing career. Furthermore, the Spaniard would have been happy to sit on the bench and wait for his first-team opportunities at Old Trafford.
Declining The Chance To Land Llorente: Massive Mistake By Solskjaer?
Hence, it could turn out to be a colossal mistake by Solskjaer to pass on the chance to sign Llorente this summer. Man United need a strong squad if they are to challenge on all fronts this season. But Solskjaer does not have enough firepower in the final third, so the Red Devils might be in for a long and gruelling season in English football.
