Should Lascelles-chasing Tottenham offer Newcastle Fernando Llorente?

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen on Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles, and are also willing to let Fernando Llorente go.

Tottenham fans may be divided on the thought of targeting Jamaal Lascelles from Newcastle, but it appears that Mauricio Pochettino is a fan of the 24-year-old with The Telegraph recently reporting that he is on Spurs’ radar with Toby Alderweireld’s future with the club looking to be very much up in the air.

Lascelles has been hugely impressive for the Magpies this season. Perhaps unsurprisingly therefore, there are a host of clubs that have been linked with a move for the defender. The Chronicle suggested in February that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton have all been monitoring the former Nottingham Forest ace.

Given the level of interest, Spurs may need to have an ace up their sleeve if they hope to win the race to bag Lascelles’ signature. But perhaps that may be exactly what they have.

Back in 2015, Rafa Benitez was interested in bringing Fernando Llorente to Real Madrid, according to La Sexta (via Sport). Of course, the move would not happen, and the striker now finds himself on the periphery of Pochettino’s squad.

The Telegraph suggested that Llorente is available to other clubs after a fairly difficult first year with Spurs following his £14 million move from Swansea – fee also reported by The Telegraph. So perhaps Spurs should consider using the veteran forward to sweeten a potential bid for Lascelles.

Newcastle have some decent strikers but it would be little surprise if Benitez wanted to add to his attacking options at the end of the campaign, so perhaps he may be tempted to have another look at Llorente now that he is available.

It seems highly unlikely that Benitez would want to lose Lascelles, but if he becomes resigned to the idea that the defender will be on his way at any stage, the chance to get a former target in return may help soften the blow and could potentially put Spurs in the driving seat.