Spurs signed Fernando Llorente on transfer deadline day, the club leaving it until after the 11pm deadline to announce the capture of the Spaniard on their official Twitter account. Nonetheless, the striker joins Spurs for around £12m from Swansea City with a good goalscoring record.
Llorente was a key figure at the Liberty Stadium last season and played a huge role in keeping the Swans in the Premier League after a battle at the wrong end of the table. The striker managed an impressive 15 goals last term, and won the Welsh club fifteen points all on his own. A man who can step up and make the difference when it matters.
It is highly unlikely that Llorente will slot straight in as first choice striker at Spurs and will probably look to take some of the weight off the shoulders of Harry Kane, who has endured a difficult start to the season, failing to find the net in his opening three games.
Vincent Janssen was brought in from AZ Alkmaar last summer for £17m and has failed to live up to his billing in his time at Spurs. The Dutchman netted six times in his debut season, just two of those coming from open play. With the arrival of Llorente, Janssen may see a huge chunk of his already limited first team opportunities disappear.
Not only does Llorente provide good backup for Harry Kane, he also gives Tottenham a different option up front, the opportunity to play with a target man, an option that Spurs have not had for a long while. His heading ability has been there for all to see at Swansea, and let’s hope Spurs’ playmakers recognise this and utilise it when he is on the pitch. Here is how Spurs fans reacted to the signing of Llorente on Twitter.
Welcome to @SpursOfficial @llorentefer19! About 5 years late but better late than never! #COYS!!
— Houston Spurs (@HoustonSpurs) 31 August 2017
You keot that quiet ?Glad he’s with us as gives us different option up front #COYS #WelcomeFernando
— Matt French (@MattyFrench82) 31 August 2017
Stoked about this signing. #WelcomeFernando
— Derrell Bradford (@Dyrnwyn) 31 August 2017
Excited about having an aerial threat like Llorente at Spurs #THFC #COYS
— John Harrison (@Purfleetjohn) 1 September 2017
Many claim fee paid for Llorente was record for 32 year old? So what, if he scores goals & takes weight off Kane for 2-3 years. #COYS #THFC
— Alf Love (@alf_love47) 1 September 2017
Wasn’t sold on the #Llorente transfer but listening to his interview has really changed my opinion. Great attitude ?? #thfc #coys
— Ant Weight (@Weightinho) 1 September 2017
Llorente is our first genuine target man I can remember us having and I bet we still won’t beat the first man from corners ?? #COYS
— Sam Dorrell (@SamTHFC_Dorrell) 1 September 2017
The more I think about it, the happier I am with the Llorente signing. He’s got goals in him and he proved himself in the prem last yr #COYS
— Alex (@_ASmith99) 1 September 2017