Tottenham transfer news: Everybody thought Spurs had flopped in the window… but Fernando Llorente could be buy of the summer
WE were all getting ready to slate Mauricio Pochettino’s signings in the transfer window and then he went and pulled a rabbit out of the hat.
Or rather, a rarebit.
That’s because the Tottenham manager’s sensational swoop across the Severn to bring Fernando Llorente to his club from Wales could turn out to be the best deal of the entire summer.
Spurs stunned us all by landing Llorente from Swansea for just £15million.
And the Spanish striker shocked us even more by picking to play for Poch when he also had Chelsea to choose from.
The fact Llorente snubbed an offer from Blues boss Antonio Conte, the manager he had previously played under at Juventus, surely tells us everything about how those in the game view these London rivals right now.
Roman Abramovich was all set to buy Tottenham in 2003 before he saw Stamford Bridge from his helicopter and plumped for Chelsea instead.
And since then several other stars have snubbed Spurs in favour of a move to the Blues.
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But Llorente’s decision to opt for North London over west suggests the tide is turning down by the Thames.
It has also provided Tottenham with a much-needed boost after their sluggish start to the season.
The defeat by Chelsea and draw with Burnley in the first two matches at their temporary Wembley home highlighted the painful lack of depth in Pochettino’s squad.
The summer signings of Paulo Gazzaniga, Davinson Sanchez, Serge Aurier, Juan Foyth and, of course, Llorente have improved that significantly.
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But it is Llorente’s arrival which is the most exciting and potentially the most effective in Tottenham's quest to establish themselves as top four regulars and title challengers.
The World Cup and Euros winner will not only add quality to the Spurs’ squad but beef up their attack and give Pochettino a new tactical dimension.
The frontman will also bring a winning mentality to a dressing room that has not yet perfected the art of lifting silverware.
You cannot say that about Llorente.
He won a hat-trick of Scudettos at Juventus as well as a Coppa Italia.
He also helped fire Sevilla to the Europa League in 2016.
Pochettino will be hoping he can do the same with Spurs and help them progress to the next level of winning trophies.
Llorente can not only provide cover for the overworked Harry Kane, he can complement him too.
And after netting 15 goals in 33 appearances for the Swans last season, the Tottenham new-boy already knows his way around the Premier League.
At 32 there will some people questioning whether he is too old to make an impact in one of the top-flight’s youngest squads.
But Tottenham needed an experienced talisman and in Llorente they have a star who can do for them what Zlatan Ibrahimovic did for Manchester United.
The summer transfer window was one the craziest we have ever seen.
Take a look at the most profitable transfers of ALL time.
And here are the Premier League players whose wages made them the most expensive per minute played.
