West Ham United linked with experienced Spanish striker: A good option for Pellegrini

Tottenham Hotspur striker Fernando Llorente has attracted the interest of West Ham United and many other clubs following his performances in the second half of the season for the Lilywhites.

According to a report from The Sun, the Spurs striker, who will become a free agent in the summer, has many offers and is likely to move on from north London. But he might not have to move that far with Premier League clubs in West Ham and Leicester City keen on signing the 34-year-old. Outside of England, many clubs like Napoli and Barcelona are also linked to the Spanish international.

Llorente, who played second fiddle to Harry Kane at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, had 13 goal contributions across all competitions. The striker scored 8 goals, with the most significant one coming against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final at Etihad Stadium which saw the north London club going through to the semis.

Fernando Llorente under Manuel Pellegrini: A good option  

Llorente is a one-dimensional striker who plays up front in and around the penalty area. The 34-year-old usually serves as the target man and can be a handful for the opposition with his physical style of play.

Manuel Pellegrini usually deploys his team in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-4-1 formation while they form up a 4-5-1 shape when defending. The Spaniard can serve as the lone man in the opposition half and using his physicality he can hold up the play with ease doing lay-offs for his teammates who are the more creative lot.

With a 6ft 3in frame and having played for a couple of Premier League clubs in Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur(currently), the Spaniard is Premier League proven and could bring a different energy to the Hammers dressing room. His free agent status means West Ham can afford to pursue him without a massive degree of risk and focus on the other areas of the pitch as well.

The 34-year-old’s aerial prowess, finishing and heading ability can prove fruitful in building up pressure on the opposition. With the likes of Felipe Anderson, Michail Antonio and Marko Arnautovic around him, his touchdowns and ability to engage defenders will come in handy.

He can be an excellent choice for the cup matches and in games where they will be requiring a Plan B. Taking into account his experience, age and offensive nous, he can prove to be a rewarding addition to the squad especially with the news that injury-stricken Andy Carroll will be leaving the club in the summer.

Stat Courtesy: Whoscored