Louis Van Gaal promised a surprise striker signing, and it looks like that forward might just be the man who, not too long ago, tortured the Manchester United defence in a Europa League game.
As the likes of Edinson Cavani, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller continue to be linked, Manchester United are set to pull off a move for Fernando Llorente from Juventus, according to the Daily Mirror.
"He is in the process," Van Gaal said when asked if the club are close to signing a striker. "It's not the striker the media has written about.
"You have to wait and see."
Llorente, who the star of the show for Athletic Bilbao in a Europa League tie against Manchester United a little over three years ago, has been deemed surplus to requirements at Juventus, after the Italian giants signed Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala from Atletico Madrid and Palermo respectively, and the Spanish striker has reportedly been offered to Manchester United.
While Llorente is not the blockbuster striker signing that fans would have been expecting, especially considering the quality players they have already bought, bringing the former Athletic Bilbao man might not be such a bad idea.
Van Gaal has already said he wants to play Wayne Rooney in the central striker role this season, and Llorente could act as an ideal backup.
Manchester United already have plenty of wide attacking options, is Van Gaal decides to play a 4-3-3, and with Pedro Rodriguez tipped to sign as well – assuming, of course, the Barcelona man is not the player Van Gaal has in mind when he made those comments -- that particular position will only bulge further in terms of quality.
Llorente can be the ideal option if Van Gaal needs a Plan B, and the Spaniard still has the capabilities to lead the line, in case an injury pops up.
However, the deal might not be as cut an dry as one might imagine, because Real Madrid are also reportedly interested in bringing the 30-year-old back to Spain.
Real could also use a backup striker option after deciding against making the loan move for Javier Hernandez permanent.
