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Tottenham Hotspur striker Fernando Llorente has been linked with a shock move to Barcelona, per Mundo Deportivo.
The 34-year-old has played a key role in Spurs’ Champions League campaign this season, scoring the decisive goal in the clash with Manchester City in the quarter-finals, before making a stunning impact in the semi-final win over Ajax.
The report claims that Llorente could be secured as a back-up option to superstar forward Luis Suarez.
Indeed, he is likely to be available on a free transfer, with his current contract set to expire following the Champions League final against Liverpool.
But has he done enough to deserve such a major move? Football FanCast’s writers give their verdicts below!
Matt Dawson
“The short answer is absolutely not. If Fernando Llorente is attracting the interest of Barcelona then the world’s gone mad. The Spaniard is not good enough for Tottenham, let alone one of the most reputable teams on the planet. Barcelona’s ability to crumble in the latter stages of the Champions League dictates they could do with someone who gives them a plan B but he isn’t near the type of quality they need. He definitely hasn’t done enough to warrant a move of that magnitude.”
James Beavis
“He clearly hasn’t done enough this season to warrant the move. However, if he is going to Barcelona to be a second or third-choice striker, then he would be a smart addition for nothing for the La Liga champions. The Spaniard knows what it takes to be an effective striker in the Spanish top flight, and can get some minutes in the league when Champions League matches are on the horizon and Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez can’t play full games. All of that said, the 34-year-old will be counting his lucky stars that this move could be on the cards.”
Billy Meyers
“Has he done enough this season? Probably not. Can I understand why Barcelona want to sign him? Absolutely. The Spaniard bossed it in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao for years and would be a very good backup for the Spanish champions, as he is able to offer a vastly different plan B to what Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi offer. We saw against Ajax how Llorente can change a game, and perhaps that is what Barcelona were missing in Europe this year.”
