Diego Llorente top of agenda at Roma meeting for Leeds United transfer
Leeds United defender Diego Llorente is Roma’s number one priority as the Italian club begin their transfer business, according to Gianluca DiMarzio.
The Italian journalist has reported that the Serie A side’s new sporting director Florent Ghisolfi will make securing the return of Llorente his “first move” upon meeting the Roma hierarchy on Tuesday (4 June).
Llorente’s performances for the Giallorossi, with one goal across 42 appearances in all competitions, have convinced manager Daniele De Rossi that he is worthy of bringing back to the Stadio Olimpico.
While it was not confirmed whether Roma will try to seal another loan deal for Llorente, as was the case this season, or a permanent transfer, Ghisolfi’s keenness to make the Spaniard his first signing suggests it could well be the latter.
Permanent Llorente transfer would be good news for Leeds
Having missed out on an immediate return to the Premier League, Leeds United are going to have to cut their cloth accordingly this season.
The Peacocks’ 1-0 loss to Southampton in the Championship play-off final means they miss out on the huge cashflow on offer in the English top-flight, with Kieran Maguire reporting that the club may need to offset up to £190million in prior transfer fees.
Llorente moving to Roma for a fee would negate some of the £18million outlay Leeds paid for the Spanish international back in 2020, but he appears to be one of the few players loaned out last season who truly impressed.
Rasmus Kristensen joined him in the Italian capital but made nowhere near the impact Llorente did and seems certain to return to Elland Road this summer [Corriere dello Sport].
Moving Llorente on and recouping a portion of their fee for the defender would be a solid start to Leeds’ outgoing transfer business, but securing transfers for players like Kristensen is set to be a much more difficult task.
In other Leeds United news, Don Goodman has made a promotion prediction if a certain Daniel Farke development plays out.
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