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Diego Llorente announcement due on deadline day for Leeds United loan-to-buy exit to Roma
Diego Llorente is due to sign his contract at Roma for his loan-to-buy exit from Leeds United on Tuesday, upon his first visit to the training ground, la Gazzetta dello Sport reports.
The centre-back is set to make a surprise departure from Elland Road to join Jose Mourinho at the Stadio Olimpico, with a replacement already brought in with the signing of teenage defender Diogo Monteiro.
Llorente, 29, flew into the Italian capital to start his medical on Monday evening, and is now due to make his first appearance at the Fulvio Bernardini Training Center in Trigoria on deadline day to officially complete the move.
The renowned pink sports paper in Italy said on Monday (30 January): “Tomorrow, however, the first visit to Trigoria and the signing of the contract that will bind him to the Giallorossi for the next six months.”
That is backed up by the Yorkshire Evening Post on the English side, who report: “The YEP understands the defender will complete a medical and be officially announced as a Roma player on deadline day.”
Finishing touches
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Barring any surprises, with eyes potentially fixed on Jack Harrison as the hours tick by on Tuesday, it looks like the Whites are going to have everything tied up in good time.
Weston McKennie has been officially announced ahead of the final day, ending any speculation over late hijack attempts from rivals, and Monteiro is in the building and ready to follow suit.
Llorente having travelled already to get the lion’s share of the details fixed up on the penultimate day of the window should allow that move to be squared away before the deadline approaches.
It is set to be an unexpectedly fruitful departure from Elland Road, for the club certainly and for the player likely as well.
A small loan fee up front is to be followed by a permanent option, which is seen as so easy to activate it has already been widely reported as an obligation, that will bank a profit on his original £18million fee from La Liga for Leeds United [Leeds Live, 30 January].
The player gets the benefit of Mourinho’s expertise, and a fresh start after never hitting the desired heights as a Premier League man.
And with Monteiro in as well there shouldn’t even be a shortage of numbers, even if Charlie Cresswell remains on loan at Millwall.
In other Leeds United news, a pundit who has been highly critical of the Whites was challenged over his language live on radio.