Phil Hay: Leeds looking to get major transfer done ‘before the weekend’
Leeds United fans were hit with some pretty major transfer news on Tuesday morning.
Sky Sports reported that Leeds were in advanced talks over a move for Real Sociedad’s Diego Llorente, with Bryan Swanson saying that a deal was close.
Despite this one coming out of the blue, it looks like it could be really close, with Athletic journalist Phil Hay confirming that Victor Orta was in talks with Real Sociedad and negotiating over the deal.
He said that Leeds are “looking to get a deal done before the weekend”.
Seven goals against
Seven goals conceded in just two games and it looks like Leeds United are responding to that in a pretty major way.
It was said that Marcelo Bielsa was in two minds about whether he needed another centre-back.
The games against Liverpool and Fulham seem to have made his mind up for him and Llorente isn’t a player who will be coming in as cover.
The 27-year-old is a current Spain international and won’t be coming in to make up the numbers.
Robin Koch hasn’t had the best start to his career at Leeds, giving away two penalties, but he’ll surely be given time to settle in and adapt.
It means that Bielsa will have three senior options to choose from and will need to select two if he’s going to stick to his 4-1-4-1 formation.
Llorente definitely represents a very different option to 18-year-old Josko Gvardiol, who was seen as cover and would be looking to develop under Koch and Cooper.
If this deal does go through by the weekend, Llorente could be in contention to make his debut against Man City at Elland Road on October 3.
And it’s another sign from Leeds about their intent to compete.
In other Leeds United news, Athletic journalist: Leeds table bid for player from PL rivals, dubbed ‘a leader’