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Spurs to release Llorente

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Tottenham forward Fernando Llorente is expected to leave the club when his current deal expires, according to the Evening Standard.

Llorente, 34, enjoyed a memorable second half to the season, especially in the iconic Champions League run to the final. The Spaniard scored the winner against Manchester City in the quarter-finals and played a huge role in the three-goal comeback against Ajax.

Despite his heroics, the English outlet claims Spurs are to make a signficant saving of £100,000-a-week from the World Cup winner, whose basic wage reportedly sits at £75,000 per-week. [Source: Spotrac]

Michel Vorm is also expected to leave the club after falling behind Paulo Gazzaniga in the Spurs pecking order. The Dutchman only managed to make four appearances for the club all season.

OPINION

Despite his role in Spurs’ run to Madrid, this would come across as a no-brainer for all involved at Tottenham. Llorente could get the chance to return to Spain after years in England with Spurs and Swansea, whereas Pochettino will get a big earner of the wage budget from a player that he has hardly used in the past couple of seasons. There is no hiding that Llorente was brought to the club as cover for talisman Harry Kane, his main job was to come on and act as a battering ram in the hope that if Spurs get desperate, Llorente can bail them out of trouble. Apart from the Champions League, that plan has rarely ever worked for either Llorente or Spurs. The 34-year-old only managed one goal in his 20 Premier League appearances, with most of his success coming in the cup competitions. Spurs must now use this potential clearout as a way to bring in a younger striker with more desire to come on and effect games for them next season. Llorente was easy to mark and against big powerful defenders, he tended to go missing. What might seem a straight forward move, Spurs may have just played a blinder.

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