Liverpool linked with Atletico Madrid star Marcos Llorente
According to Spanish news outlet Fichajes (h/t Liverpool Echo), the Reds are considering a move for Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente. After the Reds’ shock defeat at Old Trafford to Manchester United, it became very clear that the club needs reinforcements.
A young midfielder, at least younger than 30 will do Liverpool a world of good given the circumstances the club is in right now. The Reds have the second highest average age among the squads in the Premier League, falling short of West Ham by just 0.1 years.
The speculation of the Reds signing Llorente comes at a time when Naby Keita, who had just made the matchday squad against Fulham after reporting illness pulled out of the squad against Manchester United owing to another injury.
Llorente and Liverpool
The 27-year-old has been a very important part of Diego Simeone’s team at Atletico, but due to multiple strategic changes to the Argentine’s squad sees the Spaniard playing in multiple positions, but not his favoured central midfield role.
Liverpool has bitter memories of the former Real Madrid player though. Llorente scored twice in extra time against Liverpool in the UCL Round of 16 in 2020, knocking the then holders of the competition out of the reckoning.
The midfielder has extraordinary skills in ball recoveries, vision to create chances from deep and can also act as a ball carrier into the final third. His excellent first touch is a reason why he gets goals from just outside the box. In 123 appearances for the Colchoneros, he has amassed 18 goals and 20 assists.
His career off-late has seen a downward hill due to the multiple positional changes Simeone introduced at the Wanda Metropolitano. In case he makes a move to Liverpool, the issue of multiple positions shall not cease to exist.
Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp has a reputation for not tweaking his formation a lot unless there is an injury situation.
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Llorente has proved himself at the highest level for quite a while now. Liverpool should look to sign the midfielder given the injury crisis and an ageing squad. Llorente or any other young starter midfielder’s signing should tackle both these issues and help the club’s cause.
