Fernando Llorente

To take it back to Llorente.  Everything depends on the price. 

I think he'd be great value at 10 or 15m. Great connection with Morata, would give us another option when teams sit deep. Mainly as a second striker not to lead the line individually. 

But for 30 I'm not so sure. He also has a broken arm currently I think and is out for a while.

 
Llorente would be a terrific signing and we should all be praying he agrees to comes, knowing he would only be playing second fiddle to Morata. You have to look at the calibre of player you can attract for such a role and ask yourself if you can do better. Somebody who will accept their place in the pecking order with little fuss but come in and do a job when you need them. For me Llorente ticks all the boxes.

He's recently turned 32, which doesn't mean he's over-the-hill by any means, he could quite conceivably have another 2 or 3 years left in him at a high level, considering his game isn't about pace. Last year he was instrumental in Swansea staying up against all odds, scoring 15 goals in 33 appearances, which is a goal every other game playing for a weak side in a strong league which he was new to, meaning he doesn't constitute a risk because he's shown he can cut it in the Prem and he's also got experience of playing for a big club at the top level, both in domestic and European competition. Did anyone see him play? How can you complain? He was deeply impressive. Furthermore Conte knows him and if he wants to work with him again that should tell us a lot. So let's look at this, he's experienced, he knows the top level, he knows the Prem, he scores goals, the manager knows him and he can play. You're right, what a terrible idea.

Oh and he's Spanish so he'll have no problems acclimatising, seeing as everybody else in our squad is Spanish too. Oh and I almost forgot, he also has a fistful of medals. He knows what it takes to win.

Batshuayi needs a loan if we're going to go one up top which I suspect we are. He needs regular games in the Prem to develop and to give us any idea if he's good enough. He'll score goals, of that there's no doubt, but being the lone front man is about far more than that, especially in the modern game, otherwise everybody would be after Defoe or Chicarito. You need to have an all-round game, you need to be able to play with your back to goal, you need to know where to stand and where to run, you need to know how to create space for your teammates, you need to know how to link up with them, you need to know where to be and what to do in every moment of the game. You need intelligence and nous as well as a scoring instinct. You need to be able to take instruction, and this is where Batshuayi may be wanting. You only really learn by playing and maybe Conte feels he's not able to give him enough minutes at the moment so he needs to go some place else to learn, while we bring in somebody who already knows the role and who is only a short-term measure.

Morata's going to be our front-line striker. Bastshuayi's development will be stifled if he stays and he can't afford another season where he hardly plays, otherwise he has zero chance of ever fulfilling his potential. Of course there's also the possibility Conte wants three strikers next season as he may want the option of going two up top, in which case we should be even more keen for Llorente to come, as he'll know he's vying with two other strikers for a spot which would potentially make the move less desirable.

The front man is a reference point for the whole team, in Conte's own words. It's a key position, regardless of whether he's scoring or not. His performance dictates how the whole team plays, and performed properly it allows the whole team to play in the way the manager wants. Performed poorly however the team can only fail in imposing their style of play. Back-up striker is a key position within the squad, as you never know what's going to happen to your main striker, and for that reason the manager needs somebody he can rely on. If he thinks that guy is Llorente I think we should all be trusting his judgement.

Llorente would be a great addition to the squad in my opinion.

Edit: I've just remembered Remy, who is currently our third striker but will probably leave before the window shuts, a classic example of a player who will get you goals but is nowhere near good enough to perform up front on his own for a top side because his all-round game is nowhere near good enough.
Good to see you posting again Davey  :smile:

But despite the lengths you have gone to there, No, we don't need Llorente.

 
Yeah we don't need him and not at the ridiculous price being branded about. We have 2 strikers who score goals and a third would see next to no game time unless we had an injury ravaged season given we only play one up top. We have a wealth of young talent who could easily take the bench role. 

Id hope our efforts are in the wing back area at present and also out wide. 

 
I would have liked Llorente a couple of seasons back. Not now. He has not been doing that well recently. But of course he has not been with the best of teams. He is getting on. But still at a age where he could do 2 good seasons or so. But like i say, He is not exactly in red hot form is he ?. So i would say, No do not bother.

 
Yeah we don't need him and not at the ridiculous price being branded about. We have 2 strikers who score goals and a third would see next to no game time unless we had an injury ravaged season given we only play one up top. We have a wealth of young talent who could easily take the bench role. 

Id hope our efforts are in the wing back area at present and also out wide. 
I have a strong suspicion we will be playing 3-5-2 in a few games this season.

It explains why we are linked with the players we are and why we aren’t linked with a replacement/extra for Pedro/Willian 

 
we aren’t linked with a replacement/extra for Pedro/Willian 
Gonna a go a bit off topic and answer this.

Why would we be looking for a replacement or an extra for those two players though? Neither of them seems to be going anywhere and both have shown that they are capable of playing very good in that position. We don't need 3 players for that position either, and if we buy someone new then one of these two gotta leave. No way Pedro/Willian is going to accept being 3rd choice when they can easily be 1st choice at other clubs that are not too far off CFCs level. Not saying there aren't better players out there, because it is. But I think there are other positions that needs more focus. Either an upgrade or better backup at both wingbacks and a midfielder should Matic be sold (which seems likely too happen).

If we should be looking at "wings" it should be a cover for Hazard on the other side. But as I understand many people want to see Musonda get a shot at that role.

 
Mousanda is now fit and training with the rest of the squad in Singapore...hopefully he'll get some minutes on Saturday...

 
I have a strong suspicion we will be playing 3-5-2 in a few games this season.
It explains why we are linked with the players we are and why we aren’t linked with a replacement/extra for Pedro/Willian 
If that is true then I will prefer it if we spend that 30m Lorente money on a younger forward that can also play on the wings like Dembele or Iheanacho. They can play anywhere forward in a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 formation. And unlike Lorente, they can improve there game and we can sell them for profit.
 
If that is true then I will prefer it if we spend that 30m Lorente money on a younger forward that can also play on the wings like Dembele or Iheanacho. They can play anywhere forward in a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 formation. And unlike Lorente, they can improve there game and we can sell them for profit.
Oh I agree. I’m just responding to why I think we are linked with llorente. We need a very good 3rd striker.

 
If that is true then I will prefer it if we spend that 30m Lorente money on a younger forward that can also play on the wings like Dembele or Iheanacho. They can play anywhere forward in a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 formation. And unlike Lorente, they can improve there game and we can sell them for profit.
But we have 2 young strikers, both of which can play out wide and want to be first choice, I`m pretty sure if Dembele or Iheanacho signed they would also want to play first choice so it would be a ridiculous transfer to make. why cant you understand that Llorente would be either 3rd choice, plan b to break down teams or a great foil for either of our young strikers. 

 
But we have 2 young strikers, both of which can play out wide and want to be first choice, I`m pretty sure if Dembele or Iheanacho signed they would also want to play first choice so it would be a ridiculous transfer to make. why cant you understand that Llorente would be either 3rd choice, plan b to break down teams or a great foil for either of our young strikers. 
There is no logic in spending more than 10 or 15m on Lorente.
 
If we're going to sign a 3rd choice striker, i'd prefer us to go for a loan signing, then we can get rid of them easily at the end of the season if they are sh*t, or if we choose to promote Tammy, and we don't have the issue like we have with Remy, of having an unwanted player on a long contract, and having to pay their wages and find them loans for the next 3-4 years. Plus if they impress, then we will have the option of actually signing them, knowing they already fit into the side.

 
If we're going to sign a 3rd choice striker, i'd prefer us to go for a loan signing, then we can get rid of them easily at the end of the season if they are sh*t, or if we choose to promote Tammy, and we don't have the issue like we have with Remy, of having an unwanted player on a long contract, and having to pay their wages and find them loans for the next 3-4 years. Plus if they impress, then we will have the option of actually signing them, knowing they already fit into the side.
Sounds good but who's going loan us a striker that's worthy of playing in Chelsea blue? Torino?

 
Sounds good but who's going loan us a striker that's worthy of playing in Chelsea blue? Torino?
Well if it's a 3rd choice, backup, you're not looking for worldclass, i'm sure there will be options.

 
But we have 2 young strikers, both of which can play out wide and want to be first choice, I`m pretty sure if Dembele or Iheanacho signed they would also want to play first choice so it would be a ridiculous transfer to make. why cant you understand that Llorente would be either 3rd choice, plan b to break down teams or a great foil for either of our young strikers. 
Fair points. I think the signing makes a lot of sense. If I'm honest I'm not sure he'd be third choice. I think he'd very much be ahead of Michy in the order. Michy has a lot to learn about leading a line. Not just about goals.

 
Well, he is injured which is good news for us. Now we can start looking at a younger option.

 
I was curious to see the thoughts on Llorente and it appears to be a mixed bag. Lots of good points. I agree that should we sign him, it cannot be at the expense of Batshuayi. 

With the extra European games, we need depth, especially adding in EFL Cup and FA Cup games. If Morata pans out, I could see him being used for matches vs top 6 PL and the CL, with Batshuayi and Llorente, if signed, playing in all of the others. Add in injuries and I think Llorente would be a good pick up, especially under 20 million.

Llorente did score 15 Premier League goals for Swansea last year in 33 games. It included goals against us and Liverpool.

I like his height and headers from corners. 

We need depth and he can give us that along with experience.

 
Telegraph saying he'll cost 15m now given his injury and Swans have just got Bony. I'd be happy with having him, Morata and Bats. 32 is a bit old for the money but he won't be asked to play every match, he can play with either of those two and Conte will know exactly how to use him

 
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