AS Roma general manager Tiago Pinto in contact with Leeds United about permanent signing of Diego Llorente
AS Roma general manager Tiago Pinto is in contact with Leeds about a permanent transfer for Diego Llorente this summer, according to Giallo Rossi.
Llorente joined the Serie A club on loan in January for the rest of the season, with an option to buy for £16m at the end of the campaign if he impressed.
The Spaniard has done just that, earning a place in Jose Mourinho’s side, but Roma don’t want to pay the full amount agreed and are in contact with the Whites about agreeing a new fee to make the deal permanent according to a new report.
“Meanwhile Tiago Pinto is already in contact with Leeds to talk about his redemption at the end of the season,” they wrote (23 April).
“Roma don’t plan to spend the 18 million euros agreed to have him in June, but are ready to negotiate on a low figure.
“Llorente would be happy to stay in the capital: his goal has always been to be able to convince the Capitoline club to keep him, which he is doing with convincing performances.”
Let him go
Llorente doesn’t really have a future at Elland Road, and it’s clear that Roma want him and he has no intention of coming back to Leeds.
But with a fee already agreed with Roma in advance and the fact the player signed a new contract just before Christmas to protect his value, it seems unlikely that we would offer a big discount if any at all.
However with Max Wober brought in to replace him already plus the options we have in Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Robin Koch and even the returning Charlie Cresswell among the options for next season, there’s no point playing hard ball too much.
The club has already prepared for his exit and he has made it clear publicly that he wants to stay at Roma, so a deal must be agreed that works for everyone.
A deal looks inevitable, but it will be interesting to find out what price they agree on eventually in the summer and who is the happiest with the deal.
In other Leeds news, one senior Leicester ace has been ruled out of the clash at Elland Road with three more doubtful.