Diego Llorente tells people he wants to quit Leeds United for good as cut-price transfer news emerges
Leeds United loanee Diego Llorente has reportedly told people he wants to quit Elland Road for good this summer, according to Forza Roma.
The Spanish defender was surprisingly brought in by Jose Mourinho at the end of the January transfer window on a temporary basis with the potential to make it a permanent move in the summer, with an £18million option-to-buy clause in the loan contract [Daily Mail, 31 January].
Llorente had initially struggled for game-time and confidence since his move but reportedly made Mourinho proud on his full debut against Sampdoria [2 April] as the defender still works on a permanent Leeds United exit, as per Corriere dello Sport [3 April].
Calcio Mercato on 5 April revealed that the veteran defender is now loving life at the Stadio Olimpico and wishes to stay beyond the summer and that has been reiterated by the latest development in Forza Roma [11 April] who have reported that the Spanish international has told friends he desires a permanent Elland Road exit, with Roma looking for a cut-price transfer.
“Roma are already studying how to redeem him without obviously reaching the £18million established in January when Mourinho indicated him as reinforcement for a defence that can no longer count on Kumbulla.
“To anyone who asked him about his stay, he answered without a doubt: ‘I’m fine here, I’d like it’. A lot also depends on the epilogue of the English championship. Leeds, in fact, are in full swing to safety and have just two points more than the third-bottom Everton and Nottingham Forrest.
“In case of relegation, the price would automatically drop. Roma’s goal is not to exceed €10million (£8.7m),” as quoted by the report.
No deal
It’s clear Llorente obviously impressed during his full debut for Roma, and given his recent struggles with injury and lack of confidence, it’s understandable he still wishes to leave Leeds United to join the Serie A giants permanently.
However, whether the Whites will accept a discounted price having already agreed to the £18m clause is another matter entirely. If the club simply fail to secure their Premier League status come the end of the season, they will certainly be looking for the full price to be met.
With the Whites facing a needless financial embargo surrounding former player Jean-Kevin Augustin and being ordered to pay Augustin £24.5m by FIFA [The Athletic, 10 April] for breach of contract, Leeds United will be looking to recoup any kind of money they can get right now with that Augustin fine potentially having stark repercussions on their summer recruitment and the club’s general finances.
That could well mean Roma trying to secure a cut-price deal for Llorente who can still offer much at Elland Road if he stays, the club could consider a no-go zone.
But, the Spaniard’s current deal at Elland Road ends in June which gives Roma some incentive of some sort to ask for a lower price. And Leeds will have no room but to accept what the Serie A giants can offer them.
In other Leeds United news, Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta have made yet another critical error after news emerged this week.