Leeds United transfer news: ‘Total agreement reached’ on Diego Llorente loan as permanent terms emerge – Gianluca Di Marzio
Leeds United and Roma have reached “total agreement” on the loan exit of Diego Llorente and the terms of his possible permanent sale, Gianluca Di Marzio reports.
The Spanish defender’s return to the Stadio Olimpico has been on the cards ever since it became clear that the two sides would head back to the negotiating table despite the Serie A side not picking up the expensive option to buy him at the end of the season.
With a second loan fine with all sides it was just the final details to work out, in terms of a potential fee and the conditions for when it might come into play, it appears a deal has been reached for a £4.3million transfer if Llorente plays over half of Roma’s games next term.
Sky Sports Italy journalist Di Marzio reported via Twitter on Monday night (3 July): “Total agreement reached for Llorente to AS Roma from LUFC.
“Loan with €5m obligation to buy in case he plays 50% of the matches.”
Reasonable
It is no king’s ransom but once it became clear that Roma had no intention of paying the big price attached to his previous loan the Whites would likely have taken whatever they could get for the 29-year-old given he hasn’t got much of a future back at Elland Road.
There is no guarantee that he does play the majority of the games next season under Jose Mourinho, although he featured in exactly half of the Serie A matches he was in Italy for after his January move.
His usage falls just below 50% when European and cup games are taken into consideration, so depending on which games qualify it could be a narrow matter.
But since the Special One likes Llorente enough to bring him back this time around it isn’t a huge fee for Roma to pay even if he just misses the threshold.
At Leeds United the view is likely to be that it is better than nothing, and since various players who are worth much more than the centre-back are also departing on loan this summer without necessarily having cash on the cards further down the line it isn’t bad.
Rasmus Kristensen is set to join him in the Italian capital after just a year at Elland Road, and after apparently reaching full agreement on the terms for one defender it is likely something similar will be the decision on the second.
In other Leeds United news, the new manager is finally in England and set to sign his contract ready to take training this week.