Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent believes that Spurs should tie Fernando Llorente down to a new contract, given the state of the transfer market.
The Spaniard’s deal at the club ran out this summer, with the 34-year-old yet to sign for a new club.
Reports in The Daily Mail have suggested Mauricio Pochettino is keen to bring Llorente back to the club if he is willing to accept reduced terms.
The striker featured 35 times for Tottenham last season, filling in for Harry Kane throughout his injury spells.
The towering forward's aerial presence from the bench alongside Kane was also a useful weapon during his time in North London.
Without Llorente, it leaves Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son as Pochettino’s only alternatives in attack.
Both prefer to operate in wider areas but have linked up to good effect as central strikers, when Pochettino has opted for a diamond formation.
However, neither are adept at leading the line as a sole frontman, unlike Kane and Llorente.
With that in mind, Bent believes Spurs should try to tie down the Spaniard to a new contract if he’s willing to accept less money.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “I guess from a positive standpoint they know he knows the club, understands the club and they’re not really taking a risk if they can bring him back on less money.
"To be fair who else is out there?
"Llorente last season, he came in and scored important goals at important times. You need to think of yourself rather than going and shelling out £20-30m on an unknown.
"If they can get Llorente to stay there on reduced money, I’m all for it.
"If they can keep Llorente and bring him back, I think that’s a good bit of business."
Llorente has featured 66 times for Spurs during his two-year spell at the club, scoring 13 goals.
Given the short amount of time left in the transfer window and the money it would cost to bring in another forward, this could be a deal that suits all parties.
