Tottenham poised to green light summer sale for first teamer valued over £14m - reports
Tottenham have decided that they will green light a sale of Fernando Llorente in the summer when the transfer window re-opens, according to a report.
The London Evening Standard claims that Llorente, 33, is unlikely to deputise for Harry Kane as centre-forward while the 24-year-old England international is sidelined with an ankle injury.
It is understood that Heung-min Son will move to the central role with Erik Lamela coming into the side to fill in for the South Korean ace.
Llorente signed for Spurs for £14million from Swansea in the summer as Mauricio Pochettino beat Chelsea to his signature.
The 24-times Spain international has made 28 appearances in all competitions since and scored just five goals.
Most of the first-teamers appearances have come off the bench while three of his goals were a hat-trick against League One Rochdale at Wembley.
The Evening Standard reported in January that Tottenham would consider selling Llorente, but only for more than the £14million they signed him for.
Football Insider verdict
For all the good that Pochettino has done in North London, some of his transfer decisions have been odd. Llorente is not an improvement on Vincent Janssen. The Spanish forward was never going to be a starting player and he is not someone who can make much of an impact off the bench. Tottenham need someone with pace who can really hurt teams that are showing signs of fatigue. Janssen isn't that either but the Dutchman at least has some potential to fill and looked more of a threat when coming off the bench.