OPINION
Leeds have been linked with a stunning move for Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente and the news has split the fans down the middle.
There’s no doubt that most of the Leeds fans would love to see him at Elland Road (although we did find one dissenting voice who said Leeds didn’t need him) but there are plenty who just don’t believe what the Sun have reported.
However, the move could have legs. Llorente has played under Bielsa before at Athletic Bilbao and might fancy playing under him again, firing Leeds back into the Premier League and proving Tottenham wrong.
He’s out of contract in the summer and the £4m price tag that Spurs have reportedly put on him would be affordable for Leeds.
The only sticking point is the wages. He’s reportedly on £75k-a-week, which would surely price him out of Leeds’ grasp unless he was willing to take a big pay cut, which is highly unlikely. Why would he?
Of the optimists, of which there are many, the comments have ranged from “actually brilliant” to “he’d rip this league” – and we’ve no doubt he would.
One fan said he was exactly the sort of player that Leeds need – but would Andrea Radrizzani take such a big gamble to push Leeds back to the Premier League? We doubt if, but you never know. As one fan pointed out, no one actually expected Bielsa to sign as the new manager.
This is what the Leeds fans are saying on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/chuddsy92/status/1065548319621926917
Seeing my team linked with players like Llorente makes me happy!! ? #lufc
— James (@Lufc_jtets) November 22, 2018
Fernando Llorente, you say? Exactly the type of player we need. Unlikely due to wages but it's not uncommon that teams would fund some of the expenses. He'd rip this league and played under Bielsa before. #LUFC
— Davy Reddin (@davyred93) November 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/Awi1co/status/1065500352060039168
Llorente in the Championship ?
Good one.— Daryl ? (@DarylRS29) November 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/lufcleeds1/status/1065380620560465920
His wages must be ridiculous. Way above anything we'd be willing to pay.
— Jamie (@JamWhipp) November 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/markrikko/status/1065563053641613312
Llorente won't happen (nor do we need him). Sun journalism consists of checking Wiki to see who's played under Bielsa before, then drawing tenuous of links to get people clicking. Same process that linked us to Derbyshire under TC. Don't fall for it. #LUFC #dontbuythesun
— DG ? (@ellandduck) November 22, 2018
If #lufc manage to sign Llorente, Heaton and a CB. We are 100% going up IMO #mot
— JB (@sincerelyadamo) November 22, 2018