Leeds United transfer news: Diego Llorente deal likely scuppered amid Fabrizio Romano Roma update
Diego Llorente’s hopes of a return to Roma, and the hopes of Leeds United to bank a few million in transfer fees from the sale, may be over after the Italian side signed Evan N’Dicka.
The Spaniard spent a reasonably successful second half of the season on loan at the Stadio Olimpico after a surprise January loan move, which had an £18million permanent redemption clause included in the deal.
The price ultimately proved too high to interest the Giallorossi in triggering it despite manager Jose Mourinho being pleased with the centre-back’s contribution, and talks to thrash out a separate deal with a cheaper fee were on the cards [Filippo Biafora, 30 May], but that opportunity looks to have gone.
Fabrizio Romano reported via Twitter on Tuesday morning (13 June): “Evan N’Dicka joins AS Roma on free deal as expected — here we go.
“Ivorian centre back will sign until June 2028, five year deal agreed. There will be signing fee included. N’Dicka, on his way to Roma with his agents in order to undergo medicals and sign the contract.”
Former Eintracht Frankfurt defender N’Dicka, 23, was named “one of the most attractive free agent defenders in Europe” by Corriere dello Sport (4 June), with the Italian outlet reporting his presumed signing would take Llorente’s place in Mourinho’s squad.
So with Romano’s update apparently sealing that it appears that, while the £18million return on the 29-year-old was a pipe dream, now that N’Dicka has been secured by the Europa League finalists the possibility for even a £8.5million boost [Romagiallorossa, 7 June] for a player who appears unsuited for Leeds United may have been lost too.
The Whites will likely need to move some unwanted players on this summer to help cope with relegation, and with Llorente’s future at Elland Road looking far less fruitful that it would in Rome this would be a major disappointment to player and club.
Recouping the entire signing fee that was paid to Real Sociedad back in 2020 would have been a huge stroke of luck, but even banking half of that for a player who has struggled at Leeds United would be very useful in the current situation.
A second loan may still be possible if the Serie A side can cover his wages, otherwise it looks like it might be back to the drawing board with the potential windfall now likely gone.
In other Leeds United news, one of the new ownership group has commented on the race to appoint a new manager.