PSG want to sign Leeds United loanee Diego Llorente - L'Equipe

PSG are interested in signing Leeds United defender Diego Llorente on a permanent transfer, according to L'Equipe.

The French news outlet shared via their Twitter account (9 January) that the super-rich French champions are interested in the on-loan AS Roma defender.

Llorente's contract at Elland Road runs out this summer allowing him the opportunity to speak to clubs over a free transfer this summer but Paris Saint-German are prepared to offer a fee to sign him now to fend off potential interest from elsewhere.

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The Spanish defender has been an ever-present figure for Jose Mourinho’s team starting 15 of their 18 Serie A games with talk of Roma hoping to sign him permanently for a figure close to £4.3million (Roma Metropolitan, 20 December).

The Italian giants want to strengthen in defence, including making Llorente’s stay in Rome permanent in a move that would cost just over £4million.

But, now that PSG have entered the fray, Leeds United could now spark a brilliant bidding war that ensures they can get the best out of a potential January move right now.

With his contract ending his six months, it will be catastrophic for the Whites to see yet another defender quit Elland Road for nothing after Robin Koch signed a pre-contract agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt, joining them permanently.

With PSG possessing bucket-loads of cash, what a great opportunity it would be for Leeds United to get a healthy windfall for Llorente's services given his time at the club is at its end.

Given £6million-a-year wages at Elland Road, Leeds United must get him off his books soon enough and it has been touted to happen at some point during the season [Phil Hay, The Square Ball, 9 September].

In other Leeds United news, Adam Pope slammed a Whites player for his “embarrassing” performance against Peterborough.