Manchester United reportedly lining up surprise move for Spaniard: Do they need him?

Manchester United are set to sell striker Romelu Lukaku, with Inter Milan back in the running to sign the Belgian forward.

The Red Devils have to now find a replacement for Lukaku and have zeroed in on former Spurs striker Fernando Llorente, who is currently a free agent after his contract with Tottenham expired in July.

According to Gianluca di Marzio, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could sign Llorente as a backup to Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. The summer transfer window for Premier League clubs closes on Thursday, but clubs can sign free agents even after the end of the summer transfer window.

Llorente played two seasons for Spurs, playing 66 games and 13 goals, after joining from Swansea City in 2017. The Spanish forward ended last season with 35 appearances for the North London club, scoring 8 goals.

Do Manchester United need Fernando Llorente?

Signing a player on a free transfer is a no-brainer, especially for a club like Manchester United, who can afford most players in the world. Llorente would be a surprise signing, though.

The experienced Spanish striker has not been prolific over the last two seasons for Spurs and had a very average scoring rate.

United need to sign a player who can bear the burden of scoring 10-15 goals as a backup striker, and someone who could add competition for the likes of Rashford and Martial, and even teenage striker Mason Greenwood. Llorente does not tick that important box.

He is also not the type of player Solskjaer needs as the Spaniard is a target man, who is good aerially, and can play with his back against the goal.

Llorente would have been the kind of player that would have flourished under a manager of Jose Mourinho and the tactics that he used, rather than United’s current manager.

Solskjaer has shown that he wants his team to play on the front foot, with direct running, pacey wingers putting in crosses into the box and moving the ball quickly up front, on the ground.

United should rather pursue a younger forward or not sign a striker at all than sign a player who is well past his best and would not fit into the club’s style of play.