Carlo Ancelotti is planning a shock swoop to bring SSC Napoli striker Fernando Llorente to Everton, according to RAI journalist Ciro Venerato.
Llorente joined Napoli last summer following his release by Tottenham Hotspur and proved to be a frequent fixture of Ancelotti’s plans at the San Paolo Stadium prior to his sacking, with the Spaniard featuring in all 19 games during the Italian’s tenure last season.
Ancelotti only started the 2010 World Cup winner in three of Napoli’s Serie A fixtures, however, leaving Llorente to instead display his importance from the bench where he provided his side’s second goal in a 2-0 Champions League Group Stage win over Liverpool.
It now appears that Ancelotti is keen to reunite with Llorente – despite scoring just four goals all season – as Venerato has stated that the boss is hopeful of a deal after seeing Allan arrive in a £21.7million transfer at the weekend, showing the path from Naples to Merseyside is open.
“Carlo Ancelotti, the Everton manager, after securing the Allan affair with Napoli, wants another player in Gennaro Gattuso’s team,” Venerato told Radio Goal, via quotes by Arena Napoli. “I’m referring to Fernando Llorente.
“As well as Everton, West Ham are on the trail of Llorente”.
It remains to be seen if Ancelotti is indeed after Llorente, who saw his importance at Napoli fall off a cliff once the Italian departed with Gattuso only awarding him five appearances before a bout of flu and an injury saw the 35-year-old’s campaign effectively end with a one-minute cameo at home to Juventus in January.
Would you welcome 35-y/o Llorente to Goodison Park?
Yes
No
Everton are not necessarily in a position where we are in dire need of greater depth in attack, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin displayed great potential under Ancelotti last season with eight of his 15 goals for the campaign coming after the Italian’s arrival.
Richarlison also struck home seven times with Ancelotti at the helm, but may find himself played on the wings more often this season amid rumours that Bernard’s future is in doubt.
If Richarlison is forced back out wide more often than he is fielded through the centre, Ancelotti may therefore be considering Llorente as cover in case Moise Kean fails to improve on his woeful return of two goals from 33 outings or Cenk Tosu continues on the same path, as the burden would otherwise fall solely on Calvert-Lewin with no one potentially equipped to rival the £21.6m-rated forward.