Leeds will not be making a move for Fernando Llorente, the Tottenham striker who will be available on a free transfer after the Champions League final.
He is set to announce he is leaving the north London club after Saturday’s game, according to Football Insider, and that’s led to speculation among some Leeds fans that he could come in and do a job at Elland Road.
That’s as maybe but he is on a reported £75k-a-week at Tottenham and the player, who signed for £13.5million for Swansea, will likely be looking for a similar level of pay, especially as he comes without a fee.
One Leeds fan asked Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay whether Leeds could sign him as a free agent.
Hay said, “You’ve got to be realistic about the sort of wage someone like Llorente earns. A bit like Milner, it’s not feasible.”
you've got to be realistic about the sort of wage someone like Llorente earns. A bit like Milner, it's not feasible.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) May 30, 2019
OPINION
Andrea Radrizzani has said that this summer will be tough and that Leeds will look to the loan market to bolster their squad in the light of financial fair play concerns. Given that, a move for a big earner like Fernando Llorente isn’t going to happen, even given the fact that he wouldn’t want to drop down a division at the moment. There are plenty of top-flight sides in England and across Europe who would be willing to pay him the sort of money he’s on at Spurs for a 2-3 year deal, given they won’t have to pay to sign him. Leeds will be looking at the younger players from the Premier League big boys, who are keen to have them placed at a good side for development purposes. They’ll also be looking at free agents but at a much lower level. It’s fine to dream, that’s what football fans do, but as Hay said Leeds fans need to be more realistic about the level of player they can pay, let alone attract.