Leeds United may be forced to sell Diego Llorente in cut-price transfer after Premier League relegation
Leeds United could be forced to cut their losses on Diego Llorente and sell the Roma loanee on a cut-price deal after their relegation from the Premier League.
Llorente, 29, joined Leeds for an £18million fee in 2020 but has never quite reached the levels required of his hefty price tag and was subsequently sent packing to Roma on a loan deal in the January transfer window.
Since then, the Spanish international has helped Jose Mourinho’s side reach the Europa League final but still only made eight league appearances on the way to finishing the Serie A season in 6th position.
Forza Roma (24 May) has previously reported that Llorente dreams of a return to the Italian club next season, and the recent relegation under Sam Allardyce wouldn’t have helped change his mind at all.
However, after not making the desired impact that was initially planned, the Gialorossi are keen on buying the defender on a cut-price deal. [Corriere dello Sport, via Express]
They have no intention of activating their £15million buy option and instead wish to use Leeds’ precarious financial situation after Premier League relegation to their advantage.
The Telegraph have already shared that the Whites could be forced into a fire sale of first-team players, with the likes of Tyler Adams, Willy Gnonto, and Brenden Aaronson all named as potential exits.
Llorente could be the next name on this list if Roma wish to make his stay at the Stadio Olimpico permanent.
After struggling throughout his stay at Elland Road, Leeds could struggle to find another buyer for the Spaniard this summer and therefore be forced into selling him to Roma in a bargain transfer.
The club desperately need to clear the decks and should accept any offers that come their way for Llorente this summer.
In other Leeds United news, the future of one Whites-linked manager is now up in the air after a high-level resignation at his current club.