Leeds United exit for Diego Llorente to join PSG now firmly on the cards after major development on Tuesday
Leeds United loanee Diego Llorente could well be gearing up for a move to Paris Saint-Germain this month after Jose Mourinho’s sacking at AS Roma.
The Italian outfit announced their decision to sack the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager on Tuesday morning (16 January) following a worrying run of results in Serie and Roma sitting five points out of the Champions League places.
Llorente has been an ever-present figure for Mourinho’s team starting 17 of their 20 Serie A games with previous talk of Roma hoping to sign him permanently for a figure close to £4.3million (Roma Metropolitan, 20 December).
However, that plan now seems to be over at Roma with club icon Daniele De Rossi taking over from Mourinho and the Spaniard could now be on the move to Paris Saint-Germain as a result.
French newspaper L’Equipe reported via their website on Tuesday (9 January) that PSG are eyeing up the 30-year-old despite a deal for him this January being complicated by his loan deal at Roma.
It is understood that PSG will use their good relationship with 49ers Enterprises and the leadership at Roma to broker a January deal and the likelihood of that happening has surely increased with Mourinho now out the Stadio Olimpico doors.
It is noted in the article that Llorente played for Spain under Luis Enrique, who is now in charge at PSG and the former Barcelona coach has turned his attention to his fellow countryman having failed in an approach to sign Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano (Santi Aouna, 9 January).
It is evidently clear the Spaniard sees his future away from Elland Road, having told those closest to him that he doesn’t want to step foot at the club again Forza Roma (11 April).
Leeds United now find themselves with a wonderful opportunity to try and squeeze out more money for Llorente’s signature.
Now that PSG have entered the fray, Leeds United and the 49ers Enterprises could now seize the opportunity to sell the wantaway defender given their relationship with the French giants.
With his contract ending his six months, it will be catastrophic for the Whites to see yet another defender quit Elland Road for nothing after Robin Koch signed a pre-contract agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt, joining them permanently.
With PSG possessing bucket-loads of cash, what a great opportunity it would be for Leeds United to get a healthy windfall for Llorente’s services given his time at the club is now surely at its end.
In other Leeds news, Ayling replacement eyed as club open to offers for international ace.