Why Selling Fernando Llorente Would Be Good and Bad for Juventus

With a fourth consecutive Serie A title already sealed and a place in the finals of both the Coppa Italia and the Champions League secured, 2014-15 has undoubtedly been a remarkable campaign for Juventus. Whatever the result of those two showpiece events, the Bianconeri can reflect upon a season in which they overcame early concerns to achieve results beyond even the most optimistic of dreams.

Yet as summer approaches, the Old Lady and her supporters are already seeking ways to improve upon the achievements of Massimiliano Allegri and his players. Chief among them, of course, is talk of prospective transfers, with discussions of who should be bought or sold never too far from the headlines.

A number of transfer rumours concerning Juventus were analysed in depth by this previous column, but one name not brought up there was that of Fernando Llorente. His future with the club is seemingly in doubt, with John Ashdown of the Guardian believing Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Valencia are all interested in signing him.

Thanks to the Spanish striker’s contributions over his two-year stay in Turin, there are reasons both for and against cutting ties with the 30-year-old, which are looked at in detail below before a conclusion over the best course of action is drawn.

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The argument for keeping Llorente

Since arriving from Bilbao on a free transfer in the summer of 2013, Llorente has proved to be an excellent acquisition by director general Beppe Marotta and his team. Brought in to play alongside Carlos Tevez, the Pamplona native forged an excellent partnership with the former Manchester United star in his first season at the club.

Weighing in with 18 goals and five assists in all competitions last term, Llorente registered significant strikes against Real Madrid and showed that he was so much more than a lumbering battering ram up front. He possesses an excellent first touch and is fully capable of holding up play to await support, making him a smart alternative to Alvaro Morata in games when the Bianconeri are expected to have the majority of possession.

While his compatriot is pacey and direct—making him a wonderful option in transition play—Llorente is at his best when Juve dominate, making him vital in Serie A matches against tightly packed defences. The understanding he shares with Stephan Lichtsteiner is second to none, providing the Bianconeri with a reliable weapon in attack that they often exploit thanks to the smart crossing of the Swiss international.

Llorente has often proved to be a major bonus in the dressing room, ensuring numerous players feel welcome at the club. From guiding youth-team defender Filippo Romagna in training to helping Morata settle in, his influence cannot be understated. Morata told Marca recently (h/t Football Italia):

"

I’ve been lucky enough to meet someone like Fernando and apart from admiring him as a player, he has helped me in everything and taken care of me.

He brings me to training and drives me, tells me where to eat or shop. We share a room when we’re away. He’s a great guy. He also gives me Italian lessons! I can’t ask for any more.

"

The argument in favour of a sale

Llorente’s on-field contribution has undoubtedly faded this term, having scored just eight goals in 38 appearances thus far. While he and Morata began the season alternating in the role alongside Tevez, the latter almost always starts the biggest games, which is a decision made on both playing style and form.

Simply put, Llorente has regressed this term, with statistics from Squawka.com showing his shooting accuracy has declined severely, falling from 64 percent in 2013-14 to just 49 percent this term. Similarly, numbers courtesy of WhoScored.com show he is winning less aerial duels (2.1 compared to 2.8), while the accuracy of his passing has dropped to just 70.5 percent.

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With various reports—including this one from Gianluca Di Marzio—certain that Paulo Dybala will arrive this summer, Llorente will only fall further down the pecking order. Given that he is one of the club’s top earners, paying a reported salary of €4.5 million a year, as noted by Football Italia, to a fourth-choice striker seems excessive.

Conclusion

It is unlikely Juventus could convince Llorente to take a pay cut in exchange for a longer contract, which would perhaps be the ideal solution. Keeping him around as a veteran presence to guide the likes of Morata, Dybala and Kingsley Coman would be superb, but it appears more and more likely that his future does indeed now lie away from Turin.

According to various sources—including TuttoSport (h/t Football Espana)—the Bianconeri are looking for a fee of around €15 million for the Spanish star, which would be excellent business and allow them to add other reinforcements to an already strong squad. Yet as the win over Real Madrid has shown, important victories take more than just a random collection of talented and expensive stars.

Football is more than just what happens during 90 minutes, and the choice to move away from Llorente is far from simple. Any decision should be taken with caution, as losing him would not only see a talented player leave, but also see Juventus lose an invaluable source of experience and leadership.

Contrary to popular consensus, those qualities are also present in Tevez, meaning ultimately this choice comes down to the future of the Argentinian. If Tevez stays in Turin, selling Llorente at that reported fee would be the right option, but should he move on, "The Lion King" should remain at Juventus.