Liverpool Transfer Rumors: Striker Fernando Llorente Not Worth the Cost for Reds

Spanish striker Fernando Llorente is not worth the cost for Liverpool this summer.

According to The Sun, the Reds are interested in the Athletic Bilbao forward, but needed to free up some money by ridding themselves of striker Andy Carroll before Friday's transfer deadline.

According to Liverpool's official website, Carroll has now been loaned to West Ham United for the entire season.

Llorente has a "£30 million get-out clause," according to The Sun, which will make him an expensive addition if the club pull the trigger on a transfer to Anfield.

It would be false to say that Llorente isn't a talented striker. After all, the 27-year-old has scored 81 goals in over 230 appearances with Athletic dating back to 2005.

At the same rate, however, Llorente doesn't bring the elite goal-scoring punch that would elevate Liverpool over Manchester United and Manchester City in the English Premier League this season.

Sure, Llorente would be an upgrade over Andy Carroll, a player who tallied just six goals in 44 EPL appearances for the Reds from the start of 2011 to the start of 2012-13. 

Unfortunately, however, it all boils down to cost for Liverpool this summer. 

With the transfer window set to close on Friday, it would be extremely difficult for the Reds to pull off a move for Llorente. 

Liverpool will need results and standout play from the next big-money striker they opt to bring in to replace Carroll this season. It's hard to imagine Llorente providing them with that consistently in the game's most challenging league. 

If this were Robin van Persie or Edinson Cavani that Liverpool were interested in, perhaps money and limits would not be an issue. 

While Fernando Llorente is a consistent forward with plenty to offer, he is simply not in the neighborhood of a future-altering superstar. 

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