Tottenham will need Fernando Llorente if they are to beat Ajax in the Champions League semi-final, according to Tony Cascarino.
With Harry Kane injured, Llorente is Spurs’ only realistic, classic, out and out centre forward option for the clash, and after having scored the decisive goal in the quarter final against Manchester City, Cascarino believes that he could have a role to play again this time around.
Speaking on talkSPORT (April 27th, 7.45am), he said: “Some Spurs fans will see Llorente. They will need him.
“De Ligt who plays centre-half for them [Ajax] is physical, but he’s still a teenager.
“The nous of having an experienced centre-forward could cause him a few problems.”
OPINION
Llorente hasn’t always been the most appreciated of Tottenham players during his spell at the club, but you just get the feeling that perceptions of him are beginning to turn. The common view on his inclusion, whenever he was lucky enough to get a start, was that he wasn’t Harry Kane. But if this season has taught Tottenham anything, it is that they can manage without Harry Kane. This has led to a greater dependency and appreciation of the other squad members at their disposal. The most obvious example is Son Heung-min, who has become a real hero in north London, but the likes of Llorente and Lucas Moura have also benefitted. Now, you would hope, that Llorente isn’t seen as a last resort anymore, and that he is, instead, regarded as a legitimate striking option in his own right.