Roma close to signing Diego Llorente permanently as Leeds United agreement update emerges
Leeds United defender Diego Llorente is set to make his loan move to Roma permanent this summer, according to ForzaRoma.
The platform, linked to La Gazzetta dello Sport, has reported [1 June] that Llorente is hoping to make the deal permanent after 18 months on two separate loans at the Stadio Olimpico, racking up 53 appearances in total, and that the transfer is close to completion.
Leeds had reportedly agreed some time ago with Roma on a switch worth around £4.3million as an option to buy the Spaniard, who reached the Europa League final with I Giallorossi in 2023, though there are still some fine details to iron out.
Llorente has become an important player in the Italian capital, although it hasn’t all been plain sailing – it was reported in January he wished to cut his loan short to join PSG, who expressed an interest.
Then, in February, the option-to-buy clause was considered to be triggered by Roma in order to immediately sell the player – something which could still happen, but Llorente appears keen to remain in Rome at this time.
The report reads: “The redemption of Diego Llorente from Leeds is close, even if the terms with the English club are [yet] to be clarified.”
Diego Llorente to bid final farewell to Leeds United
Following failure to reach the Premier League this season despite a 90-point haul in the Championship, Leeds United are resigned to letting go of some prized squad members.
Alongside this, a host of returning loanees are bulking out Daniel Farke’s roster, with the club willing to cut their losses on several, including Brenden Aaronson, who is set to be sold to loan club Union Berlin at just over half of what Leeds paid for him [Berliner Kurier].
Llorente has chipped in for the Whites, but not to the extent fans would have hoped when he was brought in from Real Sociedad following promotion to the Premier League in 2020.
The 30-year-old is another of Marcelo Bielsa’s men from a bygone era in West Yorkshire, as the club reshape the squad following a financial boost from their major sponsorship deal with Red Bull, announced earlier in the week.
The club are strapping in for a busy and crucial summer at Elland Road.
In other Leeds news, Georginio Rutter has posted what could be a hint to his future on social media.
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