According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Fernando Llorente has emerged as a shock target for Manchester United. The ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker is available for a free transfer after seeing out his contract in North London at the end of last season.
Llorente’s mixed spell in England
Llorente initially moved to the Premier League back in 2016 when he joined Swansea for a fee of almost €6 million. He enjoyed an incredibly successful debut campaign in England, scoring 15 goals in 33 matches. As a result, he was snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur for a whopping €15 million the following summer.
The Spaniard was primarily considered as a backup for Harry Kane. As a result, the veteran attacker struggled with lack of game-time, failing to muster even 1,000 minutes of league football during his two-year spell at the club. He also scored only two goals in 36 league matches for the Lilywhites.
Llorente eventually left Tottenham at the end of last season. He was notably linked with a move to West Ham earlier this summer. But, the Hammers opted to sign Eintracht Frankfurt ace Sebastien Haller.
What can he offer to the table?
Llorente has a significant amount of experience at the highest level of football. The Spaniard has featured in almost 300 games in La Liga while making 69 and 66 appearances in the Premier League and the Serie A respectively. And at the age of 35, he is undoubtedly one of the most experienced attackers in Europe right now.
The ex-Juventus star is known for his aerial prowess, mainly due to his tall 1.93m frame. It gives him a considerable advantage in headed duels, making him a threat from set-pieces. Aside from that, Llorente is also a lethal goalscorer, who rarely wastes his chances.
Is Llorente a viable option for Man United?
Llorente’s experience and leadership qualities could be useful for an otherwise young Manchester United set up in the upcoming season. Besides, the Spaniard also has experience of playing in the Premier League and is unlikely to take time settling into his new club.
From a sporting perspective, he can offer some much-needed backup for Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. The 35-year-old can also be utilised as a potential plan B, should United fail to breach a well-disciplined defence. His heading prowess, in that regard, would enable Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer to use him as a target-man.
Therefore, Llorente is indeed a viable option for Manchester United as they aim to return among the English elites in the upcoming season.
