Arsenal were interested in Tottenham’s Fernando Llorente two summers ago… the year they failed to sign an outfield first team player.
Tottenham signed Fernando Llorente on transfer deadline day and hope the Spaniard will become an instant hit and an upgrade on back-up striker Vincent Janssen.
Llorente netted 15 goals in the Premier League last season for Swansea City, and his move to Tottenham comes five years after Harry Redknapp first tried to sign him for Tottenham.
They beat Chelsea to the deal, but rivals Arsenal should have a big regret over the striker’s move too.
The Sun reported in 2015 that Arsene Wenger was eyeing a £8 millon move for the striker.
But Wenger did not push ahead with a move, and Llorente stayed at Juventus before joining Swansea City on a free transfer a year later, an inspired move by the Welsh side.
What makes Arsenal’s pass on Llorente worse was that 2015 was the summer they dropped the ball in the transfer market.
After signing Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in consecutive years, in 2015 they chose to only add Petr Cech, and then failed to add an outfield player.
The following year Leicester went on to win the league, and if Arsenal had been more aggressive in the market, they could have pushed harder for the title themselves.
Llorente is a similar player to Olivier Giroud but he has gone onto show last season why he has been capped by the Spanish international side 24 times.
Now if Llorente goes on to score for fun for rivals Tottenham, the Gunners may really rue not bringing him in themselves.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
